District centres – definition and functions

In the Belfast context district centres are generally all purpose-built shopping locations. They are intended to provide for a critical mass of retail, service and leisure provision and perform the following functions: In terms of retailing, they provide a sizeable convenience goods offer in the form of a supermarket or superstore for local shopping needs. They afford an opportunity to provide for a fair element of comparison goods shopping beyond the City Centre. They also allow for related retail service and leisure service uses to develop at the location.