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Towns, High Streets and Resilience in Scotland: A Question for Policy?

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  • Leigh Sparks

    (Institute for Retail Studies, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK8 2AP, UK)

Abstract

The “death of the high street” has become a common refrain, particularly in the United Kingdom, often accompanied by calls for action and demands for improved resilience in town centres and high streets. This paper considers the policy context for towns and town centres in Scotland and the recent review of the country’s approach to towns, town centres and places. With the adoption of National Outcomes linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the declaration of a Climate Emergency, the conclusion is drawn that a more fundamental and radical shift in policy is needed, if the resilience of town centres is to have any meaning, and that a clearer and more widely understood conceptualisation of resilience needs to be developed.

Suggested Citation

  • Leigh Sparks, 2021. "Towns, High Streets and Resilience in Scotland: A Question for Policy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5631-:d:556776
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    7. Schade Katrin & Müller Andre & Holdack Eric & Hübscher Marcus & Lurie Katja & Schulze Juana, 2021. "Digitalization and City Center Resilience. Exploring Visitors’ Perceptions in Leipzig, Germany," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 65(3-4), pages 132-146, December.

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