‘The dominance of retail on high streets is something of the past’, according to a new report published by a House of Lords committee – which also found that out of town retail centres can have a ‘significant negative impact’ on local high streets.
The report from the cross-party Built Environment committee – entitled High Streets: Life beyond retail? – urged town centres to offer more public services such as libraries or clinics on the high street, improve green spaces and street lighting, and ensure access to public toilets to encourage people to visit their high street.
They also recommended that every town should appoint a town centre manager to support the development of the high street and said that local authorities should continue to support market traders.
The 74-page report, produced as part of an inquiry into high streets in towns and small cities, also highlighted that accessibility by car and sufficient parking are ‘necessary for commercial sustainability’, and welcomed the announcement of plans to review the business rates system.
It criticised the previous government’s plans to revive high streets as ‘not well co-ordinated’ and says the new administration should recognise that local authority bidding for central funding has become ‘expensive and wasteful’.
It states: “What people want from the high street, and the businesses found upon them, has constantly evolved and will continue to evolve. Therefore, towns and small cities should avoid conforming to a fixed vision and monolithic approach to the high street as this leads to a greater risk of systemic high street failures. Instead they should plan positively for a resilient future by ensuring diversity and adaptability.”
Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce Policy Adviser Declan Riddell, pictured above, welcomed the report. He said: “As a Chamber, we welcome the forward-looking nature of the findings from this report.
“There is a tendency to look back to a golden age when our High Streets were packed with shoppers. The pandemic and online shopping have changed our High Streets forever. While shopping is still a key element of our town centres, retail’s dominance of the High Street is over. There is a growing demand for leisure outlets – look at the exponential growth of coffee shops.
“We would like to see more public services on our High Streets, such as outpatients services. Giving people a purpose to be in town will boost spending in shops. Residential living in town centres is becoming the norm and again, and these residents will shop and spend money on the doorstep.
“A reform of the business rates system is long overdue, and we hope that any future changes will support our bricks and mortar retailers, creating a level playing field with their online rivals.”
The Government has until Tuesday, January 28, to respond to the report.
Lord Moylan, Chairman of the Built Environment committee, said: “Local high streets are places where generations have shopped, socialised and worked. Many of them are in decline and to reverse this they need to look beyond being simply a destination for shoppers.
“Retail will always be important, but people want to see a variety of businesses and other services such as NHS diagnostic centres and libraries on their high street. And they can’t be successful if there isn’t a convenient way, both by public transport and by car, to get to them.
“Delivering a successful and sustainable high street often involves a local leader, who can be from the local community, authority or business. This leader very often motivates teams from the public and private sector to use their imagination to breathe new life into their high street.
“Decision-makers shouldn’t be afraid of trying new things. However, they should be mindful of the quality of what is delivered, as only well designed and built spaces will have any chance of standing the test of time.”
