Yahoo Finance Five ways to save Britain's high streets before it's too late
Christmas is a crucial time of year for retailers, but this year’s festive sales have been alarmingly low for high streets and even online firms like ASOS.
But in a new report, leading retail industry experts have laid out five community-focused ways of tackling the challenges facing UK high streets.
The government-appointed panel of experts from the retail, property and design sectors set out these key recommendations to reinvigorate town centres.
READ MORE: The UK high street is in crisis
Cleaning up the streets with a national day of action
As a short-term solution, the panel is recommending a “National High Street Perfect Day” – an annual clean-up day that would see local communities come together to eliminate litter and graffiti, in order to ensure the town looks as good as it possibly can.
This campaign would be a locally led and funded “source of civic pride” that draws on expertise from a range of partners. Many chain retailers already have clean-up days, and the idea could be broadened to include more aspects of town centres and be inclusive of local schools, faith groups and volunteer organisations.
Turn empty shops into community spaces
Local authorities are being asked to think inventively about how to use empty shops, which can be “depressing eyesores that drag down shopping areas”. In particular, landlords and tenants who can’t strike a deal at market value should be encouraged to offer spaces to community businesses with “social purposes”, at special terms.
Earlier this year, the government launched its Open Doors pilot scheme, which matched landlords in five areas of the country with local community groups looking for space. The panel is recommending that this scheme be implemented across the UK and sustained over time, and that registers of empty properties in local authorities be released so that stakeholders know who owns spaces.
READ MORE: New Look anticipates further store closures amid turnaround
Tackle the cost of parking
Local authorities are also being asked to reviewed parking provisions to make sure that existing restrictions and charges are working to support accessibility to local businesses, encouraging footfall and attracting shoppers to town centres and high streets, as research by the panel found that parking is a factor in where people decide to shop.
New funding for areas to design their own plans
Sir John Timpson, one of the panel members, says a £675m fund announced in the Budget in October will help town centres develop better spaces for their communities. The panel suggests that this fund go towards reconstructing high streets based on individual requirements, but that improving space management and transport links should be a priority.
It is also being recommended that local authorities advise with local people, groups and business to ensure that development proposals meet the needs of communities.
READ MORE: Britain’s ASOS adds to retail gloom with profit warning
A single voice for every town centre
Some funding from the Future High Streets fund is set to be fuelled into the creation of the Town Centre Task Force – a towns collective that will represent and promote the development of town centres.
Taking cues from Scotland’s Town Partnership, the task force will aim to “create a single voice” for town centres, and bring together local authorities, business leaders and community leaders to address the issues facing them.