Knowledge status - Retail, accessibility and urban environment in city centers

This report summarizes findings from a literature review. We see a clear tendency that city centres lose market shares to more remotely located trade. The overall urban development affects the opportunities to develop attractive, vibrant and competitive city centres. Users have different purposes when visiting city centres, but a well-assorted retail supply is an important attraction. City centre users appreciate pedestrianized urban spaces and good conditions for walking. Projects that improve walkability in the city centre helps increase the population's use of these areas and to strengthen retail. Trade-offs between good car accessibility and good urban environment can be solved through conscious prioritization of pedestrians in the main walking areas, progressive parking pricing close to the most central areas, and parking for employees and others in the outskirts of the cente.