Town centre management: Developing a research agenda in an emerging field

This paper arises out of an ongoing research and teaching interest in the emerging field of town centre management (TCM). Based on a review of recent publications and research in the area, it has been prompted by recognition that this is a much unexplored topic for study. The paper is in two parts. The first provides a background account of TCM in the UK, its history, structures and the current issues affecting its likely future development. The second part examines recent research in the topic and draws some conclusions regarding the changing focus of interest in this still relatively new area of practice and study. The paper concludes with a proposed agenda for more research and thinking in a field which has great potential, but that has not as yet received the attention it deserves. © 2004 Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.