out-of-town shopping

Out-of-town shopping centres, such as this one at Bicester in Oxfordshire, have become very common since the 1970s. The lack of space and high cost of land in city centres forced retail developers to look outside urban areas for locations to develop. Rising car ownership and new road developments have meant that out-of-town sites are now often more accessible and attractive than the centres of cities, especially since car parking tends to be free.

Purchasing activity provided for by the construction of a complex of shops situated out of a town or city centre.

Since the 1980s in the UK and other parts of Western Europe, there has been a rapid growth of such complexes, which are usually close to main roads, providing easy access for shoppers from several large urban areas. Proximity to suburban housing estates provides a workforce for the complex. Many retailing activities have changed location to out-of-town complexes because of business competition and the availability of large areas of unused land which is cheap in comparison to land within the town or city centre. As a result, retail companies can build larger stores, provide free parking, and offer a wide range of shops and associated facilities, such as petrol stations, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The emphasis is on shopping as a day-long activity. The shopping centres are usually pedestrianized and under cover. The development of out-of-town shopping centres is possible because of the increase in car ownership, and the desire for shops with a wider range and volume of stock. The improvement in urban roads and motorways allows shoppers and delivery lorries to travel more easily and quickly to the shopping centres.