This paper considers the difficulties of transferring theoretical concepts derived from research undertaken in differing geographical locations. It focuses on deinstitutionalization, the North American concept of ‘Service Dependent Ghetto’ formation and its application to the Scottish environment of Dumfries and Galloway. The influence of agencies, the local community and facility-users in the formation of locational patterns is examined. It is concluded that, whilst some elements of the concept are reaffirmed by the Scottish study, different legislative mechanisms, greater centralized control and the influence of the voluntary sector create contradictory locational forces that counteract the North American findings. Consequently, it is argued, the transfer of place-specific concepts may be problematic.