Listing thecentre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes sets a bad precedent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).   

Reacting to last weeks announcement  by the Tourism and Heritage Minister John Penrose, that the shopping centre will get Grade II listing, the BRC said it would unnecessarily increase retailers’ costs and undermine their ability to create and maintain local jobs.   

Elizabeth Hinde, the British Retail Consortium’s Head of Property, said: “This sets a bad precedent. The shopping centre is not a building of significant national interest or under threat of demolition.   

“Listing thecentre:mk will make it more expensive to adapt to changing customer needs. Grade II status will also make it less attractive for retailers to locate there, which will undermine local job creation.     

“It’s ludicrous to put up retailers’ costs, especially in these challenging times.”  

The BRC, which has never before commented on an individual listing proposal, wrote to the then Minister for Culture and Tourism in 2009 to encourage her not to list thecentre:mk.