1. The Metrocentre
rebecca, Beren, emily

2. Location

3. Location
Shoppers are attracted here from across the region, and further afield as far as Edinburgh. The centre is located 3 miles south west of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the A1 near Gateshead just minutes from the national motorway network. And there are excellent public transport links, with an integrated transport hub providing on site bus station, railway station and coach park.

4. Location

5. Background INTU Shopping Centre – Metrocentre
Located just off the A1 in Gateshead, Newcastle in Northumberland.
1.9 Million Square Foot of retail and leisure space
That’s 338 shopping units
10 billion total available retail expenditure (£)
23 million annual footfall
2h 18m average dwell time
39% of customers come on a weekly basis
73% of customers are females
It’s Europe's largest covered shopping and leisure centre.
Over 25 Years old
“Together with the adjacent Metro Retail Park, this is more than just a shopping centre - it's a complete retail, catering and leisure destination.”

6. Impacts/effects on the CBD
12% of trips also to Newcastle CBD
pedestrian flows in Gateshead dropped by 34%
large scale redevelopment
Eldon square: unemployment, derelict buildings and vandalism- £170m redevelopment
CBD Improvements, transport, 8 multi-storey car parks, 48 open car parks, pedestrianisation
Alive after five- added 750,000 extra shoppers in its first 6 months
1993 Howard and Davies: “consumer preference for larger or more convenient shopping centres and to use their mobility to visit them. Impact has been most adverse, not in the largest centre or even the centres closest to the Metro Centre, but in weaker centres and weakest parts of centres”

7. Advantages 10,000 free parking spaces
Increased accessibility from its own junction of the A1 (west of Gateshead)
working population of 7000 workers
340 shops occupying 2,093,000 square feet (194,400 m2) of retail floor space
designed to make customers feel safe and relaxed when shopping
More than just shopping: various entertainment and food outlets
financial return for shareholders
Digitally connected

8. DISADVANTAGES
Although the MetroCentre has created numerous jobs and provided facilities for local people it has also be blamed for increased traffic, pollution and the decline of Newcastle CBD. All of the big shops like Marks and Spencer move from town centres, taking with them lots of the customers that used to use local village shops. Smaller shops can't compete with the cheap prices so they quickly go out of business.
There is an increase in congestion as more people travel to shopping centre by car.
The shopping centres create noise, air and visual pollution all affecting local residents.
Shopping centres may destroy Greenfield sites that have previously been used and enjoyed by local residents.