Central Business District

CBD for short

Usually found in the centre of
towns and cities
The role of the CBD
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Finance (banking)
• Offices
 Characteristics
• Most expensive land
• Tallest buildings
• Focus for road and rail transport
• Busiest place
 Competition to the CBD
• Internet shopping
• Retail parks e.g.

• Out of town shopping

centres e.g.

• Huge out of town

supermarkets e.g.
• Business parks
 Threats
• Too little parking
• Too much traffic
congestion
• Pollution from cars, buses
and lorries
• Danger from traffic
• Crime – muggings during
the day, drink fuelled
violence at night, car theft
• Not a very exciting
experience
 Decline
• Empty shops, banks
• Cinemas closed
• “Pound shops” and
charity shops
• Looks run down
• Fewer people
• Decentralisation –
shops and offices
move to outskirts of
city
 How can Middlesbrough CBD be
revitalised?
TRAFFIC
One way systems to • Free parking at weekends
keep traffic moving or evenings to attract
shoppers back

• Multi-storey car parks, • Improved public transport

some next to or on top of
shopping centres
• E.g. Zetland car park
How can the CBD be revitalised?
SHOPPING
• Revamp the shopping
areas
• Mostly under cover
e.g. The Mall (was the
Cleveland Centre) or
the Hill Street Centre
 EMPTY BUILDINGS
• Bring them back in to
use e.g. old banks or
courts now used as
bars and clubs

• Get people back in to

the CBD by
converting upper
floors into flats or
offices
 How can the CBD be revitalised?
• Safety and security

• CCTV and security in

the shopping centres
• Late night police
patrols
 A nicer environment
• Pedestrianise
• Street art (statues)
and well designed
street furniture
( places to sit)

• Public open space

 Special events
• Concerts that attract
people

• Christmas lights and

events

• Museums and art

galleries subsidised
by the government