A new House of Lords report calls for a reimagining of the UK’s high streets, emphasizing the need to go beyond traditional retail to include more restaurants, leisure activities and public services.
The decline of high street retail dominance in the UK is becoming increasingly apparent, with more than 10,000 stores closing in 2023 alone. Local communities have seen the loss of local shops, pharmacies, clothing stores, pubs and banks, leaving many town centers struggling to attract visitors.
According to the report titled “Main Streets: Life Beyond Retail?” Published by the cross-party House of Lords Built Environment Committee There is an urgent need for high streets to provide a wider range of services. This includes not only shopping, but also dining, leisure activities, health centers and libraries.
Lord Moylan, Chairman of the Built Environment Committee, said: “Local high streets are places where generations have shopped, socialized and worked. Many of them are in decline and, to reverse this, they need to look beyond just being a destination for shoppers.
The report stresses that local authorities, communities and businesses must collaborate to create high streets that are adaptable, flexible and 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:
Implementing the “City Center First” policy.
: Ensuring the establishment of new public services such as libraries, diagnostic centers and local government buildings on main streets.
Appointment of city center managers: Every local authority should have an active manager to support high street development and share best practice at a national level.
Enhance accessibilityImproving connectivity with public transportation and providing sufficient parking to facilitate access to the main streets by car and public transportation.
Create welcoming public spaces: Integrating green spaces and areas where people, especially young people, can socialize without spending money.
Improve safety measures: Address concerns by enhancing street lighting, ensuring clear sight lines, and promoting a mix of uses that keep areas lively at night.
Support local markets: Identifying the role of markets in enhancing demand and contributing to the unique character of towns and cities.
Addressing future challenges and strategies
The committee notes that previous government efforts to revitalize main streets were not well coordinated. It urges the new government to implement local growth financing reforms that enable high streets to thrive in the long term and ensure officials have the expertise needed to deliver improvements.
The report also welcomes the announcement of plans to review the business rates system, recognizing that tax, finance and the planning system significantly impact the regeneration of high streets. He criticizes the current model of local authorities bidding for central funding as expensive and wasteful, and calls for a more transparent system for distributing funding.
Lord Moylan added: “Delivering a successful and sustainable high street often requires a local leader who motivates teams from the public and private sectors to use their imagination to breathe new life into their high street. Decision makers should not be afraid to try new things but should be mindful of the quality of what is being done.” Introducing it, as only well designed and built spaces will stand the test of time.