Fenalla Keevil - Geography
Contents
Introduction 162
Background to the development 163
Analysis 167
Conclusions 184
Bibliography 185
Abstract
This essay examines the impacts of the retail-led redevelopment of
Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter. It does this by assessing to what
extent the project achieved the three main aims of urban regeneration;
creating additional employment, stimulating economic growth and
enhancing and improving the environment. Various sources of data were
used and analysed, including recent census data, information recorded
by the local council and provided by the developers and articles on the
area. The data is displayed in different formats using maps, photographs,
tables and graphs to effectively analyse the impact of the project.
The key focus was to examine the additional impacts the redevelopment
created relative to a ‘base case’ which assumes that the previous
shopping centre had continued to operate with no refurbishment or
redevelopment. Some local retailers and environmentalists expressed
concerns about the detrimental effects of the scheme on existing high
street shops and congestion, and these have been assessed. However,
overall, the essay concludes that Princesshay did have net positive
impacts on the surrounding area. It was able to create additional
employment, rather than substituting or displacing employment from
other areas of Exeter. It also stimulated economic multiplier effects
across the region, creating a new economic ‘core’within the city centre.
The redevelopment also achieved the goal of enhancing and improving
the environment, by making large investments in public transport
infrastructure to combat the increased congestion that the project caused
and by improving the aesthetics of the area. From the data analysed,
it can be seen that the development managed to successfully achieve
each of the goals of urban regeneration. Therefore, although the data
used may not be completely conclusive due to limited funding and lack of
access, the analysis allowed within the scope of this essay indicates that
Princesshay has created positive impacts.
161