Leisure, heritage and the city: A potent combination

Of all the forms of commercial development it is arguable that property devoted to leisure uses has a greater affinity with the historic qualities of the urban environment than any other. This paper will trace the impact that the provision for leisure activities has had on town layouts, leaving some of the most enduring and location specific features of our urban areas. In an era of the ‘experience economy’ leisure property is in a unique position to capitalise on the unique qualities of the town. In doing so it must respect the heritage it seeks to exploit, creating a sustainable future and not just a synthetic experience.