What’s Next for Shopping Centres? IPM’s Cathy Parker Speaks on BBC Radio Ulster
As Connswater Shopping Centre in East Belfast closes its doors for the final, the Institute of Place Management is calling for new thinking about the future of retail spaces.
Appearing on BBC Radio Ulster, IPM’s Professor Cathy Parker reflected on the broader implications of the closure, placing Connswater within a national trend affecting shopping centres across the UK.
“We just don’t need as many shops and shopping centres in 2025 as we did in the 1980s,” Parker explained. “But that doesn’t mean these spaces can’t have a future.”
The closure of Connswater is part of a wider shift, with recent news highlighting similar stories in Bristol, Ashford, and Elgin. Many of these centres, once seen as immovable community landmarks, are now struggling due to changing consumer habits and the rise of online retail.
Professor Parker emphasised that the decline of traditional retail spaces doesn’t have to signal the end for these locations. Instead, she urged local authorities, stakeholders, and communities to reimagine them as multi-functional community hubs.
“Spaces like Connswater could be repurposed for health services, education, arts, culture, music studios or social enterprises,” she said. “But those changes don’t happen without leadership. Transforming a struggling centre into a vibrant community asset requires management, vision, and local engagement.”
The BBC discussion also highlighted positive developments around Connswater, such as new public spaces and improved infrastructure, which point to the area’s potential. Only 20 of Connswater’s 50 units are currently occupied – many by not-for-profit organisations – further underlining the need for bold action to prevent long-term vacancy and decline.
IPM believes that repurposing and regeneration must be at the heart of the UK’s response to retail transformation. Through research, professional development, and partnership working, IPM continues to support place leaders across the UK and beyond to navigate this shift.
“It’s a real shame when retail units don’t adapt in time,” Parker added. “Because once you reach a tipping point – 30 or more vacant units – it becomes much harder to bring a centre back to life without a complete rethink.”
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Formed in 2006, the Institute of Place Management is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better.