A brand new Home of Lords report requires a reimagining of UK excessive streets, emphasising the necessity to transfer past conventional retail to incorporate extra eating places, leisure actions, and public providers.
The decline of retail dominance on UK excessive streets has change into more and more evident, with over 10,000 retailer closures in 2023 alone. Communities have witnessed the lack of native malls, pharmacies, clothes outlets, pubs, and banks, leaving many city centres struggling to draw guests.
In response to the report titled “High Streets: Life Beyond Retail?” revealed by the cross-party Home of Lords Constructed Setting Committee, there’s a urgent want for top streets to supply a greater variety of providers. This consists of not solely procuring but in addition eating, leisure actions, well being centres, and libraries.
Lord Moylan, Chairman of the Constructed Setting 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.”
The report emphasises that native authorities, communities, and companies should collaborate to create adaptable and resilient excessive streets that replicate native wants. A set, one-size-fits-all strategy ought to be averted in favour of versatile methods that may evolve over time.
Key findings and suggestions embrace:
Implement a ‘town centre first’ coverage
: Guarantee new public providers like libraries, diagnostic centres, and native authorities buildings are established on excessive streets.
Appoint city centre managers: Every native authority ought to have an lively supervisor to assist excessive road growth and share greatest practices nationwide.
Improve accessibility: Enhance public transport connectivity and supply adequate parking to make excessive streets simply accessible by each automobile and public transport.
Create welcoming public areas: Incorporate inexperienced areas and areas the place individuals, particularly younger individuals, can socialise with out spending cash.
Enhance security measures: Deal with considerations by enhancing road lighting, making certain clear sightlines, and selling a mixture of makes use of that hold areas vigorous into the evening.
Help native markets: Recognise the position of markets in boosting footfall and contributing to the distinctive character of cities and cities.
addressing challenges and future methods
The Committee notes that earlier authorities efforts to revive excessive streets weren’t well-coordinated. It urges the brand new authorities to implement native progress funding reforms that allow excessive streets to flourish in the long run and guarantee these accountable have the experience to ship enhancements.
The report additionally welcomes the announcement of plans to assessment the Enterprise Charges system, acknowledging that taxation, funding, and the planning system considerably influence excessive road regeneration. It criticises the present mannequin of native authorities bidding for central funding as costly and wasteful, advocating for a extra clear funding distribution system.
Lord Moylan added: “Delivering a successful and sustainable high street often involves 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 shouldn’t be afraid of trying new things but should be mindful of the quality of what is delivered, as only well-designed and built spaces will stand the test of time.”
