Britomart, Nuffield St come in for high praise

A selection of the world's best retail hubs were named at the Property Council's shopping-centre conference in Auckland last week.

Ludo Campbell-Reid of Auckland Council cited Liverpool One, the British development near docklands, London popup mall Boxpark Shoreditch, Los Angeles shopping/entertainment resort The Grove and the Shanghai CBD historic building fashion hub as outstanding examples of centres.

He also singled out two in Auckland for special mention: Britomart, the historic Auckland mixed-use precinct and Nuffield St by Westfield in Newmarket.

In one of the more lively addresses at the all-day conference held at SkyCity, Campbell-Reid recommended people read Urban Retail by Robert Gibbs, saying it was time for a mindset change for responses to Auckland's urban design.

Fears about too many shops being developed were raised by Stephen Toplis of the BNZ, but Chris Dibble of Jones Lang LaSalle said after the conference that not all those structures applied for would rise from the ground.

"Consents put in place do not always translate into actual activity," Dibble said. "The increased scrutiny placed on development, finance and insurance cover in recent times may delay, stall or restrict development if suitable arrangements or appropriate measures cannot be made."