Bicester Village boss says internet shopping ‘has no soul’

Scott Malkin heads the property management firm Value Retail, which oversees not just the north Oxfordshire retail park. Since being developed from a field in 1995, Value Retail has expanded its ‘village’ concept to 11 more places across the world including in New York, Shanghai and Paris. All together, 50 million people and $5bn worth of sales are expected in 2026. Bicester Village has been asked for footfall numbers this Christmas, but has not responded to our enquiry. Speaking to The Times, Mr Malkin said: “There’s no soul on the internet. The physical experience matters as much, or potentially more,…