Transforming High Streets for the Benefit: Strategies for Improvement
Revitalizing Britain's High Streets: A New Lease of Life
Britain's high streets are undergoing a transformation, with once struggling towns and cities finding new life through innovative strategies. Frome in Somerset, for instance, has seen a renaissance by reducing rents, creating a strong brand, and rethinking the role of the town council.
In a nod to the evolving British high street, the focus is shifting towards amenities and local companies taking advantage of lower town centre rents and a change to working practices. Tom Whittington, director of commercial research at Savills in Manchester, suggests this as a natural evolution of the British high street.
The high street is not dying but is changing, with a focus on mixing offices, cafes, independent and pop-up shops, and homes to revitalize outmoded spaces. This shift is evident in towns like Altrincham, Trafford, which once was a ghost town but reversed its fortunes through a holistic approach involving residents, businesses, and smart financing of public realm improvements.
The UK Government is playing a crucial role in this revitalization, with modernized planning regulations aiming to make it quicker and easier to open cafes, bars, music venues, and outdoor dining options in disused shops. This includes creating 'hospitality zones' to fast-track permissions and protecting long-standing venues from noise complaints, aiming to boost footfall and activity on high streets.
Mixed-use redevelopment and regeneration schemes are another key approach. Cities like Sunderland are implementing ambitious plans, transforming high streets into vibrant areas that combine retail, commercial office space, leisure facilities, and residential apartments. These projects are designed with flexibility, enhancing pedestrian access, and improving public realm to attract residents and visitors alike.
Promoting economic diversification beyond traditional retail is also a focus. Recognizing that old retail models are insufficient, revitalization strategies now emphasize a broader economic base including cultural venues, residential living, and office spaces to sustain high street vitality.
Effective revitalization requires smart local government policies and targeted interventions supported by central government. Partnerships across councils, private developers, and community groups are essential to turning around struggling areas. The government is attempting to stimulate growth with High Street Rental Auctions, which will give councils the power to auction off leases for empty commercial properties.
Moreover, the government is supporting programmes like Historic England's High Street Heritage Action Zones, which transform underused or dilapidated buildings and promote cultural events. Samuel Lawson Johnston, managing partner of Kinrise, believes that ex-department stores offer enormous opportunities for mixed-use schemes, providing a center for the community.
However, the British high street is still experiencing a precarious state due to record numbers of stores closing. Iconic brands like Boots the Chemist and WHSmith are retreating from multiple units, with Boots closing around 300 stores in 2024 and WHSmith focusing on railway stations and airports.
Despite these challenges, there is a growing consensus that the so-called crisis on the high street is a misnomer, affecting big retail more than smaller centers. Dr Lucy Montague, senior lecturer at the Manchester School of Architecture, believes that the focus should be on fostering strong public-private-community partnerships to create dynamic, economically resilient urban centers.
In conclusion, the current revitalization of British high streets largely rests on modernizing planning regulations, embracing mixed-use developments, protecting cultural venues, and fostering strong public-private-community partnerships to create vibrant, economically resilient urban centers.
- Historic houses, home-and-garden stores, and lifestyle boutiques are popping up in revitalized high streets across Britain, contributing to the diverse mix of businesses that attract residents and visitors.
- A shift in focus from traditional retail towards a broader economic base, incorporating industries such as finance, industry, and retail, is being emphasized in revitalization strategies to sustain high street vitality.
- Businesses in the home-and-garden and lifestyle sectors might find that the modernized planning regulations make it easier to open shops in disused high street properties, offering opportunities for growth.
- In the effort to revitalize their high streets, towns and cities are also focusing on creating attractive shopping destinations by incorporating offices, cafes, and residential apartments, thereby transforming these areas into lifestyle hubs.
