Table of Contents
A new report from the House of Lords calls for a new look at Britain’s high streets, highlighting the need to move beyond traditional retail to include more restaurants, leisure activities and public services.
The decline in retail dominance on the British high street has become increasingly apparent, with more than 10,000 store closures expected in 2023 alone. Communities have witnessed the loss of local department stores, pharmacies, clothing stores, pubs and banks, leaving many town centers struggling to attract visitors.
According to the report titled “High Streets: Life Beyond Retail?” published by the cross-party House of Lords Built Environment Committee, there is an urgent need for high streets to offer a wider range of services. This includes not only shops, but also restaurants, leisure activities, health centers and libraries.
Lord Moylan, chairman of the Built Environment Commission, said: “Local high streets are places where generations have shopped, socialized and worked. Many of them are in decline, and to turn this around they need to look beyond just being a destination for shoppers.”
The report highlights that local authorities, communities and businesses must work together to create adaptable and resilient high streets that reflect local needs. A fixed, one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided in favor of flexible strategies that can evolve over time.
Key findings and recommendations include:
Implement a ‘city center first’ policy
: Ensure that new public services such as libraries, diagnostic centers and local government buildings are located on the high street.
Appoint center managers: Every local authority should have an active manager to support high street development and share best practice nationally.
Improve accessibility: Improve public transport connectivity and provide sufficient parking to make shopping streets easily accessible by both car and public transport.
Create inviting public spaces: Integrate green spaces and areas where people, especially young people, can socialize without spending money.
Improve safety measures: Address issues by improving street lighting, ensuring clear sightlines and promoting a mix of uses that keep areas vibrant into the night.
Support local markets: Recognize the role of markets in driving visitor numbers and contributing to the unique character of towns and cities.
addressing challenges and future strategies
The Committee notes that previous government efforts to revitalize high streets were not well coordinated. It urges the new government to implement local growth finance reforms that will help high streets thrive in the long term and ensure those responsible have the expertise to make improvements.
The report also welcomes the announcement of plans to overhaul the Business Rates system, recognizing that tax, funding and the planning system have a significant impact on high street regeneration. It criticizes the current model of local governments bidding for central funding as expensive and wasteful, and calls for a more transparent funding system.
Lord Moylan added: “Delivering a successful and sustainable high street often requires a local leader to motivate public and private sector teams to use their imagination to breathe new life into their high street. Decision makers should not be afraid to try new things, but should consider the quality of what is delivered, as only well-designed and built spaces can stand the test of time.”