Following an acknowledgement of the present stasis in the market for shopping centres , and reasons such as paucity of tenants, low yields, high costs, and lack of institutional interest are given, the article examines the three principle factors governing financial viability. These are rent increases , and reductions in land prices and building costs . Rents are under market pressure to decline but could be maximised by reductions in service charges or by the introduction of turnover rents . Land price falls offer hope, but the dangers of competition from other sectors are pointed out. The author, having arrived at a consideration of reducing building costs, suggests that this is the area where greatest savings may be made. The future, he argues, lies with building single-storey, uncovered centres with extensive carparks, of which type Fosse Park , Leicester and One Stop , Birmingham are examples.