Can local retail foster neighbourhood revitalisation? A review of the literature

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between local retail and neighbourhood changes. The purpose is to assess, through different lenses, conceptual frameworks and research methodologies, the reasons why local businesses may or may not be beneficial for neighbourhood revitalisation and for communities. The paper draws on seven different case studies, undertaken by different researchers in various contexts, and ranging from predominantly quantitative to highly qualitative approaches and from economic-oriented perspectives to more socially grounded ones. The various empirical findings have an interesting input on the effects of local retail in areas such as crime, social capital and interaction, urban design quality, diversity, community formation or ecology.