Clone town
Encyclopedia
Clone town is a global term for a town where the High Street
or other major shopping areas are significantly dominated by Chain stores. The term was coined by the New Economics Foundation (NEF)
, a British think tank, in their 2004 report on "Clone Town Britain".
A survey conducted by NEF in 2005 estimated that 41% of towns in the UK
and 48% of London villages could be considered clone towns, with the trend rising.
The converse argument is that large chain stores have grown big because their products are desirable to large numbers of people, and thus their arrival in towns provides convenient access to the products that the population might want. It is argued that providing locals with easy access to popular products they want should be a higher priority than ensuring that people travelling between multiple towns experience variety. Furthermore, because they are wealthy businesses they are more likely to consume large amounts of local services and to employ local people, thus energising the local economy.
However, evidence suggests that local independent businesses tend to generate more employment and keep more money in circulation locally than businesses headquartered elsewhere.
The NEF report also notes that the creation of chain stores and supermarkets has been in part a response to the consolidation of retail land ownership in the UK. Retailers are forced to consolidate in order to have any leverage over landlords who are already consolidated.
Other commentators have raised concerns regarding the loss of "sociability" offered by traditional shopping: "the demise of the small shop would mean that people will not just be disadvantaged in their role as consumers but also as members of communities – the erosion of small shops is viewed as the erosion of the 'social glue' that binds communities together, entrenching social exclusion in the UK."
as the worst example of a clone town in the UK, with only a single independent store in the city's high street, and less diversity (in terms of different categories of shop) than any other town surveyed. Other extreme clone towns in England include Stafford
, Middlesbrough
, Weston-super-Mare
and Winchester
. Although not included in the NEF survey, many Provincial towns in Scotland are considered to have similar characteristics.
Notably, in spite of having the highest property prices in the country, London
is not even close to becoming a clone town: even in the central areas of the city, a huge diversity of businesses exists, largely as a result of the city's relatively large size and cosmopolitan population.
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
or other major shopping areas are significantly dominated by Chain stores. The term was coined by the New Economics Foundation (NEF)
New Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
, a British think tank, in their 2004 report on "Clone Town Britain".
A survey conducted by NEF in 2005 estimated that 41% of towns in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and 48% of London villages could be considered clone towns, with the trend rising.
Controversy
The NEF report argued that the spread of clone towns is highly damaging to society because of the removal of diversity. In particular:- The expansion of clone towns devastated small businesses. Between 1997 and 2002, independent general stores were estimated to close at the rate of 1 per day, and specialist stores at the rate of 50 per week.
- Consolidation of large amounts of distribution power in the hands of these companies could lead to danger. For example, magazine editors lobbied the Prime Minister to act to prevent a situation where a few supermarket brands could control the distribution of magazines and thus effectively censor any publication they did not like, or even force it out of business. The report also found that many suppliers, such as farmers, feared making any public criticism of chain retailers, as the retailer could simply cut their distribution and force them out of business.
- Related to both of the above is the danger of the loss of regional colour. For example, the NEF report found that many supermarket branches in Scotland did not carry, or did not stock, regional Scottish publications.
- The tendency for chain stores, and in particular supermarkets, to locate out-of-town means that they purchase land which could have been used for housing, thus driving up house prices since less land is available.
- Chain stores and especially supermarkets tend to carry only the few most popular products in certain ranges (for example, the most popular computer games, books, and DVDs). Thus, they reduce the range of choice available, while removing the most profitable business that companies offering greater choice would depend upon.
The converse argument is that large chain stores have grown big because their products are desirable to large numbers of people, and thus their arrival in towns provides convenient access to the products that the population might want. It is argued that providing locals with easy access to popular products they want should be a higher priority than ensuring that people travelling between multiple towns experience variety. Furthermore, because they are wealthy businesses they are more likely to consume large amounts of local services and to employ local people, thus energising the local economy.
However, evidence suggests that local independent businesses tend to generate more employment and keep more money in circulation locally than businesses headquartered elsewhere.
The NEF report also notes that the creation of chain stores and supermarkets has been in part a response to the consolidation of retail land ownership in the UK. Retailers are forced to consolidate in order to have any leverage over landlords who are already consolidated.
Other commentators have raised concerns regarding the loss of "sociability" offered by traditional shopping: "the demise of the small shop would mean that people will not just be disadvantaged in their role as consumers but also as members of communities – the erosion of small shops is viewed as the erosion of the 'social glue' that binds communities together, entrenching social exclusion in the UK."
Examples
The 2005 survey rated ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
as the worst example of a clone town in the UK, with only a single independent store in the city's high street, and less diversity (in terms of different categories of shop) than any other town surveyed. Other extreme clone towns in England include Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
and Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. Although not included in the NEF survey, many Provincial towns in Scotland are considered to have similar characteristics.
Notably, in spite of having the highest property prices in the country, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
is not even close to becoming a clone town: even in the central areas of the city, a huge diversity of businesses exists, largely as a result of the city's relatively large size and cosmopolitan population.