My main gripe with Sunderland, and I think I've covered this in another thread, is that planners have opted for a generic, soulless shopping mall instead of developing the traditional shopping areas of Fawcett Street, John Street and High Street West. This has resulted in some shops, like M&S and, in the past, Joplings (or whatever it became), being out on the periphery of the main shopping area surrounded by derelict shells of former buildings as well as the likes of Poundland and other various bargain shops. This is not to say there isn't a place for The Bridges in Sunderland, but if you look at other cities like Newcastle, Leeds or Manchester, planners have managed to combine shopping malls with the traditional high-street to enhance the shopping experience and also to promote the cultural and architectural history of their cities.