This year's sample is based on the same criterion as last year's i.e. all those premises which would be likely to attract a first class covenant. However this selection process inevitably results in the inclusion of some units, particularly in shopping centres, which would, strictly speaking, be too small to interest a national multiple. The map shows the overall area. Retail Space Information on retail floorspace has again been obtained from the Valuation and Lands Agency main database. Only those properties used wholly or mainly for retail purposes have been included.
All floor areas are net internal and exclude common parts where appropriate.
In view of the recent decision by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to encourage metrication we are now expressing all measurements in square metres. There appears to be gradual acceptance of this in the Belfast property market, particularly among the leading retail agents. Following the change to metrication large stores are now defined as those exceeding 4,000 square metres. The total occupied retail space has been disaggregated into fourteen categories of use which are shown in Diagram 6 . It is based on a sub-sample of 75 shop units in and around the City's prime retail core.