Activity Level Decline on Commercial Road
The level of activity on Commercial Road, particularly by pedestrian shoppers in the mid 1960s and the 1990s can be compared to explain reduction in flow of pedestrian shoppers to the Tricorn Centre. The diagrams show greater activity in the northern end of Commercial Road in the 1960s than in the 1990s. In the 60s, the Commercial Road’s key tenants had back entrances, enabling pedestrians to walk through to the Tricorn Centre. The Tricorn Centre would have also attracted pedestrian activity to this side of the city centre. The southern side of Commercial Road near Guildhall and the train station were also heavily bombed, detracting pedestrians to that area in the 60s. The decline in activity in the 90s is partially due to Luder’s reasons for the Tricorn Centres decline. Additionally, there was greater variety of shops in the northern end in the 1960s, including department store, British Home stores, a key tenant, attracting pedestrian activity according to Gruen’s anchor store theory. British Home store later moved into Cascades shopping centre. The southern side of Commercial Road near Guildhall and the train station was redeveloped. Furthermore the position of the train station meaning the pedestrian shoppers traveling via public transport enter Commercial Road from the southern end. The decline in level of activity to the northern end of Commercial Road results in fewer shoppers accessing the Tricorn Centre.
Diagram 25a: Activity levels near Commercial Road and Tricorn site circa 1990. Diagram derived from: Ordnance Survey. (1991). Plan SU6400NW, 1:1250. Southampton: Author. Ordnance Survey. (1990). Plan SU6400NE, 1:1250. Southampton: Author. Ordnance Survey. (1986). Plan SU6400SW, 1:1250. Southampton: Author.
Diagram 25b: Activity levels near Commercial Road and Tricorn site circa mid 1960’s. Diagram derived from: Ordnance Survey. (1970). Plan SU6400 & Plan SU6500, 1:2500. Southampton: Author.
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