The 80s and 90s -
Commercial development and territorial reorganisation - explosion
of out-of-town shopping
Town planning
Shopping centres and trading estates
PROCOS
1981 - Socialist government
Like previous governments, it encourages supermarkets
in the battle against inflation.
Decentralisation laws (Defferre Law):The Mayors are now
responsible for granting construction permits. Their powers
are increased
Supermarkets in shopping malls multiply.
Industrial areas are turned into business parks.
Development of superstores and supermarkets, furniture
stores and commercial estates.
Marked growth of trade and competition;
Procos studies and analyses help members define their
best set-up strategies.
Companies affiliated to Procos
1980: 32
1990: 75
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
under pressure from small traders, "force" the
supermarkets out-of-town, thinking that this will protect
town centre traders.
Industrial crisis: the industrial areas become obsolete.
In 1990: 555 shopping centres and 780 supermarkets
To meet consumer needs as precisely as possible, Procos
members work on
- refining concepts
- modernising their network- diversification (in 1986,
51 groups developing 86 retail chains).
Setting up business, but in the right way
In 1986, Procos addresses the problem of anarchic building
installations of less than 1000 m2 (exempt from authorisation)
which will blight commercial town planning policies in
France for many years.
Consequence: Decline of town centres
Restoring the town centres
The specialist traders of Procos look to create a commercial
town planning environment that will restore the town centres.
1990: The Doubin Decrees address the problems
of the outskirts of town by introducing mandatory authorisations
for commercial estates.
1988: Creation of the Cabinet Berenice
to help town Mayors with their town-centre restructuring
plans.
