A ranking of shopping centres using multiple branch numbers

Summary The paper presents a new ranking of shopping centres in Great Britain based on the number of branches of durable multiple retailers found in each centre. The results are used to derive a functional retail hierarchy. There is found to be a clear distinction between Regional Centres containing stores and smaller District centres. A comparison with the 1971 Census of Distribution shows patterns of growth and decline. In urban areas with weak or split centres, the main centre was found to have risen in rank while the surrounding minor centres had lost rank.