CWMBRAN'S COMING SUPERSTORE ‐ And how it may affect shopping patterns

The south Wales region is increasingly taking on a test‐tube character for assessing shopping patterns throughout the country as a whole. Cwmbran New Town, situated some five miles south of Pontypool and 16 miles north‐east of Cardiff, has been described as being “likely to be regarded as Britain's most successful out‐of‐town shopping centre.” Some 88% of planned retail floorspace is located in the town centre, the remainder being in eight neighbourhood shopping centres. In addition, the town is within the catchment area of the UK's first‐ever Carrefour, at Caerphilly; and an Asda unit at Rogerstone (Newport). A further major development is to be the arrival of a Woolco superstore of 100,000 sq ft, to be opened in the centre in the autumn; in addition there is likely to be a Marks & Spencer next year, plus a 50,000 sq ft supermarket for J.Sainsbury. Everybody, it seems, is coming to Cwmbran. This article sets out to examine patterns of shopping behaviour before these developments take place, and specifically consumer attitudes to the Woolco superstore. The authors conclude from their survey that neighbourhood centres will suffer a reduction in sales volume, and that in the town centre, blight may extend.