Author Description

Merry Hill is a major retail development comprising some 1.39 million square feet of gross retail floor space. Situated to the south of Dudley, it opened in stages between 1986 and 1989 and has proved popular with shoppers. But has its success been at the expense of other retail centres? In response to this concern, independent research was commissioned by the West Midlands Planning and Transportation Subcommittee to examine the impact of Merry Hill upon the viability and vitality of established shopping centres within the West Midlands. This report publishes the results of this research and the findings will be taken into account when considering policy on future large out-of-centre retail developments.