Retail planning precedent: lessons and prospects for South Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	Retail planning precedent: lessons and prospects for South Africa
Author:	Kudelasz, Adele
Year:	1997
Periodical:	Urban Forum
Volume:	8
Issue:	2
Pages:	247-254
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	informal sector retail trade
External link:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03036771
Abstract:	Over the last few decades the retail industry has become an increasingly strong participant in the South African economy. Retail change in the country has arguably occurred with little planning intervention. Many of the restrictions of the past were imposed on the informal sector rather than the formal component and since the 1970s shopping centre developers have enjoyed a relatively easy ride. This article explores the idea that the South African State planner can and ought to play a more confident and visionary role in the planning and management of the retail environment by exploring the history of retail planning in other parts of the world. It shows that at this late stage more decisive planning intervention in formal retail development in South Africa will amount to little more than damage control. The question is whether local authorities can afford to continue to view the development of the large retail form as unproblematic. Bibliogr., notes.