Planned shopping centre developments — The problems of goods delivery and reception

Problems concerning operational inefficiencies of goods delivery and reception to retail outlets located on the high street are frequently said to stem from deficiencies in the transport infrastructure. These deficiencies are often made worse by poor organisation and management of the facilities available, and this has repercussions on the environment in which people shop. In an effort to alleviate pressure put on the retail environment by conflicting transport uses, planning authorities have implemented schemes which enable pedestrians and vehicles to be segregated. Hence they have created traffic‐free pedestrianized areas and shopping centres. The exclusion of vehicles from these sensitive areas has meant that other arrangements have had to be made to enable goods vehicles to service shops. These usually take the form of specially designed off‐loading areas, remote from major Pedestrian concentrations.