The perceived impact of an off‐centre factory outlet mall: the local community dimension

Revisits a retail development near Stoke on Trent, UK, first reported on in 1998. It draws on recent work by Arnold and Luthra which has called for attention to be paid to the effects of large format (big box) retailing. To do so it draws on the opinions of members of the public who live within view of the Stoke on Trent development. It utilises before and after surveying, supplemented by interviews with a community leader, to show how redevelopment is viewed by those it most affects. Findings suggest that even the redevelopment of an existing site can generate protest. However, post‐opening, the concerns are more muted. The research process also reveals that the case study is one with implications for current concerns regarding future use of sites with A1 or open consent as defined under locally‐applicable land‐use planning regulations.