Deriving indicators of access to food retail provision in British cities: Studies of Cardiff, Leeds and Bradford

This paper attempts to quantify patterns of access to food retailing in two urban areas (Leeds/Bradford and Cardiff). We introduce, first, a locally based mapping approach and, secondly, a systematic city-wide modelling approach. This quantifies provision levels in terms of modelling shopping flows, in order to identify areas of poor access to food retailing. The paper then compares these contrasting methods of identifying 'food deserts', using the study areas of Leeds/Bradford and Cardiff. Two 'what if' type analyses are also undertaken (one in Leeds, one in Cardiff) to investigate the impact on 'food deserts' of opening new food retailing stores.