For some years now, there has been a seemingly endless stream of negative headlines surrounding the UK retail sector, in particular the shopping centre market. It is generally accepted that UK retailers now need fewer stores and vacancy rates are very high in some areas, particularly in secondary locations in smaller towns – as high as 30-40% in some cases. But, should we believe all the headlines forecasting doom and gloom in the UK shopping centre sector, and is bricks and mortar retailing really in terminal decline?