High street report proposes new fund and local initiative to arrest decline

The final report from the High Streets Expert Panel has been published today by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The group, headed by Sir John Timpson, was established by the high streets minister, Jake Berry, in July 2018 to look at the problems facing high streets and town centres, and to advise on measures to address them.

It earlier published an interim report, and today’s final version confirms the main proposals made then.

The panel’s recommendations are for a “Town Centre Task Force”, a “Future High Streets Fund”, and short-term alleviation measures.

The report’s remit was to examine the causes of high street decline and come up with remedial measures.

High streets and town centres have suffered through the growth of internet shopping, the expansion of out-of-town retailing, and changing shopping behaviour with many established retail formats falling by the wayside.

Against this difficult background, the report notes that some places have been able to thrive.

“The lesson that government should learn from these shining examples is that by helping local teams with a viable vision to put their own plan into action, real change can happen.”

It plans to reinvigorate town centres by helping them become less focused on shopping, by including leisure activities, offices and housing.

The main force for change will be local initiative with the “local teams” made up of groups such as local government, business and community groups.

“We believe that local places are best placed to know what their local solutions are.

“No two towns are alike, and each has a unique culture and heritage.

“It should be up to the local community to come up with their proposed solutions.”

The task force recommended by the report is aimed at fostering this “collaborative place-making”.

It bring together local authorities, business and community leaders, and voluntary sector organisations, facilitate the exchange of information, champion best practice, and provide expert advice.

The interim report called for the creation of a Future High Street Fund and the Budget in October announced £675m to establish this, with the report saying that schemes to improve town centres should be co-founded with local public or private sector money.

The short-term measures are made up of suggestions to keep centres litter-free, to encourage the use of empty shops, and ensure that parking restrictions and charges encourage rather than discourage footfall.

Timpson’s report follows that of Mary Portas in 2011, which was similarly aimed at halting the decline of the high street.