Current State

from High Street Revival and 'Repair Cafes'

Conclusion

In terms of future research, a gap to be explored is how the emergence of Repair Cafés on our high streets could positively impact the retail sector, bringing together different generations, skills and ideals to promote a healthy, conscious community.

The Current State

Opinions towards the high street are varying, depending on the people you speak to and the area you visit, the public may view the high street as vibrant, occupied by thriving businesses or the antithesis, a desolate street with ‘to let’ signs ruining its facade. One thing is clear, high streets as we know them are becoming a distant memory, times have changed. The high street is a complex entity, with variables and components that govern its health but most observe ‘the concern for the high street, is not a recent revelation’. Literature highlights ‘a myriad of external factors’2 that 3 have determined its status. These issues include landlords, business rates, parking/accessibility, footfall, appeal as well as the internet have all taken their toll.

Appreciation for the high street has moved in an out of favour, steered not only by current events and factors that remain uncontrollable in addition to policy and governmental decisions that affect its health and therefore, as Parker (et al) expressed, ‘a period of turbulent change’ is presently occurring.4 Scholars such as Roberts often attribute the financial crisis of 2008 for igniting initial change and descent of the high street, because it created an uncertain image surrounding retail, acting as a catalyst for its current condition. Wrigley and Brooks confirmed ‘the shock-wave of 5 global financial crisis tore through the UK town centres and high streets’ as well as Goevert and 6

J, Phillips, N, Walford, A, Hockey, & L, Sparks, ‘Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of 2 the ‘High Street’’, Planning Theory & Practice, 22:1, 2021,11-26, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2021.1875030

K, Cassidy, & S, Resnick, ‘Adopting a value co-creation perspective to understand High Street 3 regeneration’, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 2020, DOI:10.1080/0965254X.2019.1642938 C, Parker, N, Ntounis, S, Millington, S, Quin, and F, R, Castillo-Villar, "Improving the vitality and 4 viability of the UK High Street by 2020: Identifying priorities and a framework for action", Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 10 No. 4, 2017, pp. 310-348. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/JPMD-03-2017-0032

M, Roberts, ‘The Crisis in the UK’s High Streets: can the Evening and Nighttime Economy

5 Help?’,Journal of Urban Research, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4000/articulo.3035 (Accessed 10th June 2021)

N, Wrigley, & E, Brookes, ‘Evolving High Streets: Resilience & Reinvention’, Economic & Social 6 Research Council, 2014, https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/371883/1/ Opinion_Pieces_Southampton_Nov_2014.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021)

Towle who contributed to the consensus stating it ‘created a perfect storm’. Despite this catalyst, it 7 may have been a turning point, it could be argued that it may have been a blessing in disguise to reinvent the high street.

The high street’s role is continually confirmed in literature understanding in the past they have provided a sense of community as well as shopping, the study by Bailey demonstrated they ‘play an important role, beyond just commerce’. Griffiths (et al) concurred stating ‘the ‘high street’, in 8 other words, is also a metaphor for ‘community’, and its ‘health’ a barometer of communal wellbeing’. They also recognised ‘the high street, even retail on the high street, is not one thing but, 9 many things’.10 Dobson concurred with both Bailey and Griffiths (et al)11 12 that ‘for most of human history, buying and selling has been intimately connected with living and socialising’, the elements that form our high streets have been previously cherished and we should endeavour to maintain their value in society. A prominent member of this discourse Mary Portas also supported this 13 argument, a retail consultant who detailed her beliefs on the high street in her report commissioned

T, Goevert, and A, Towle, “High Street Places: Doing a Lot with a Little.” Design for London: 7 Experiments in Urban Thinking, edited by P, Bishop and L, Williams, UCL Press, London, 2020, pp. 73–111. www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv13xps62.11. (Accessed 10 June 2021)

R, Bailey, ‘There’s a way to bring our troubled high streets back to life’, Evening standard, 2020,

8 https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/high-streets-shops-retailers-a4466296.html (Accessed 20th June 2021) S, Gri9 ffiths, A Dhanani,C Ellul, M, Haklay, D, Jeevendrampillai, N, Nikolova, P, Rickles, ‘Using space syntax and historical land-use data to interrogate narratives of high street ‘decline’ in two Greater London suburbs’. In: Kim, YO and Park, HT and Seo, KW, (eds.) Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Syntax Symposium, (pp. 036:1 - 036:15). Sejong University: Seoul, Korea, 2013

S, Griffiths, A Dhanani,C Ellul, M, Haklay, D, Jeevendrampillai, N, Nikolova, P, Rickles, ‘Using

10 space syntax and historical land-use data to interrogate narratives of high street ‘decline’ in two Greater London suburbs’. In: Kim, YO and Park, HT and Seo, KW, (eds.) Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Syntax Symposium, (pp. 036:1 - 036:15). Sejong University: Seoul, Korea, 2013

R, Bailey, ’There’s a way to bring our troubled high streets back to life’, Evening standard, 2020, https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/high-streets-shops-retailers-a4466296.html (Accessed 20th June 2021) 12S, Griffiths, A Dhanani,C Ellul, M, Haklay, D, Jeevendrampillai, N, Nikolova, P, Rickles, ‘Using space syntax and historical land-use data to interrogate narratives of high street ‘decline’ in two Greater London suburbs’. In: Kim, YO and Park, HT and Seo, KW, (eds.) Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Syntax Symposium, (pp. 036:1 - 036:15). Sejong University: Seoul, Korea, 2013

J, Dobson, How to Save Our Town Centres: A Radical Agenda for the Future of High Streets. 1st ed., Bristol University Press, 2015, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t895wk. (Accessed 17 June 2021) (Page 8)

in 2011 by the UK government. The ‘Portas Review’ is an invaluable source and continuous point 14 of reference that demonstrates the governments recognition for action, this sense of community has been lost and ought to be a priority for future initiatives as we ‘have reached a crisis point’ and a 15 clear ‘need to wake up’. Portas shares the opinion of others believing ‘shops are living institutions 16 playing a fundamental role in the fabric of people’s lives’. Prior to Portas’ report, the state of the 17 high street was not a topic of focus by scholars, her points made in 2011 continue to be reiterated and proven by the absence of responsibility we have witnessed to support ones community and appreciation for local businesses to rapidly dwindle as ‘the butcher, baker and candlestick- maker now work in Tesco’.18

Undoubtedly shopping has been made easier with the internet and much of the literature emphasises the significant role it plays. The capability of unconventional means of shopping such as television channels and the internet was understood by Pavitt in 1997, his predictions have been confirmed and surpassed beyond expectations. Without reliance on stock levels in store, parking 19 spaces or queues, shopping online is usually a more peaceful experience, one can browse at leisure without reliance on opening hours and customer service, this argument was confirmed by Andrews, who revealed 64% of people via a survey because of the previously listed reasons favour shopping online rather than in-store. Understanding these changing habits of the consumer, BBC reported 20 ‘the success of fast fashion online retailers such as Boohoo has been tough for some of the more established High Street brands to emulate’ therefore, people are simply more inclined to use the cheaper and faster option. As the power of the internet began to be understood, online shopping 21

M, Portas,‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021) 15 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

16 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021)

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021, https://

17 www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021)

T, Naylor, ‘We can revive Britain’s high streets. But developers stand in the way’, The Guardian,

18 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/14/britain-high-streets-developersfootfall (Accessed 7th June 2021) 19 D, Pavitt, "Retailing and the super high street: the future of the electronic home shopping industry", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 25 No. 1,1997, pp. 38-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/09590559710156099

S, Andrews, ‘Death or transformation: The future of the high street’, Keeping it simple, 2020,

20 https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-future-of-the-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

J, Haigh, ‘Worst year for high street job losses in 25 years’, BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

21 news/business-55501049n(Accessed 7th June 2021)

was bound to impact the high street as Pavitt noted 22, considering this, to thrive, the concept of the high street must provide different services to the internet, to create an inclusive experience.23 Research continues to confirm the significant and arguably detrimental impact of the internet has had on the current condition of the high street. In 2019, Becker (et al) argued ‘ongoing digitisation has had a significant impact on the traditional structures of high street retail’ as well as stating ‘almost a third of brick-and-mortar retailers’ potential profits are lost to the competition online’.24 Statista reported in a similar vein to Becker (et al) regarding the transformation internet commerce has provided 25, claiming people are becoming accustomed to online shopping and these practices are unlikely to be reversed. Phillips (et al) agrees, asserting technology has provided a way for 26 people to cease visiting town centres as all shops can be found in their pocket or bag,27 serving as a roadblock for the high streets. This growth of the internet has caused scholarly arguments to jump to the extreme, declaring the end of the high street with Dobson arguing in 2015 that many are of the opinion it ‘is dead or dying, and nothing can stop it’ also adding people are ‘turning their backs on town centres, they no longer care what happens to them’.28 This appears to be an opinion shared by the public as 61% of consumers surveyed believe that to be the case after continuous reports of closures. These arguments and findings omit that some services still have to be done in person 29

D, Pavitt, "Retailing and the super high street: the future of the electronic home shopping industry", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 25 No. 1, 1997, pp. 38-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/09590559710156099 23 M, Roberts,‘The Crisis in the UK’s High Streets: can the Evening and Nighttime Economy Help?’, Journal of Urban Research, 2015, https://doi.org/10.4000/articulo.3035 (Accessed 10th June 2021) 24 J, Becker J,H, Betzing M, Von Hoffen M, Niemann ‘A Tale of Two Cities: How High Streets Can Prevail in the Digital Age'. In: K, Riemer S, Schellhammer M, Meinert (eds) Collaboration in the Digital Age. Springer, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94487-6_14 25J, Becker J,H, Betzing M, Von Hoffen M, Niemann ‘A Tale of Two Cities: How High Streets Can Prevail in the Digital Age'. In: K, Riemer S, Schellhammer M, Meinert (eds) Collaboration in the Digital Age. Springer, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94487-6_14

‘High street retail in the United Kingdom (UK) - Statistics & Facts’, Statista Research Department, 2021, https://www.statista.com/topics/4655/high-street-retail-in-the-unitedkingdom-uk/ (Accessed 4th June 2021) 27 J, Phillips, N, Walford, A, Hockey & L, Sparks, ‘Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’’, Planning Theory & Practice, 22:1,2021,11-26, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2021.1875030

J, Dobson, How to Save Our Town Centres: A Radical Agenda for the Future of High Streets. 1st ed., Bristol University Press, 2015, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t895wk. (Accessed 17 June 2021). (Page 8)

S, Andrews, ‘Death or transformation: The future of the high street’, Keeping it simple, 2020,

29 https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-future-of-the-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

such as a hair cut or a salon appointment like Hubbard recognises. However, we are witnessing 30 technology in the United States, removing the need for physical shops, or at least dedicated premises and jobs that will soon travel to the UK with machines to execute a manicure for a fraction of the price and time, but for now, physical shops have to exist. 31

Prior to the pandemic the internet had already made a stamp on the high street, proving its significance as Britons were already buying the most online within Europe. Although other 32 factors impact the high street, scholars have postulated a link between the rise of the internet and decline of the high street, MP Damien Moore noted ‘the internet is the biggest challenge to our high street’. Paired with the ‘relentless and exponentially growing competitor’ of online platforms such 33 as Amazon which are bound to impact the way we shop.34 In 2016, Sparks wrote ‘retailers have been battered by the onslaught of changing consumer patterns, online retailing and out of town shopping’, demonstrating this new found issue.35 In a similar vein, Goevert and Towle reported ‘the high street is no longer the centre for a neighbourhood’s shopping needs’,36 demonstrating people no longer think of the high street as their first port of call. Further confirmed by statistics collected by Keeping it Simple in 2020, illustrating dramatic change in shopping habits over the past 10 years, 82% of people shop via the internet, a sizeable increase from 52%. A parliament debate 37 recognised efforts to prevent coronavirus transmission caused shops to close, inevitably removing

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017 (Page 15) 31 C, Ritschel, “VIRAL TIKTOK OF ‘ROBOT MANICURE’ SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT ROLE OF AUTOMATION IN FUTURE: ‘RISE OF THE MACHINES’’ The Independent, 2020, https:// www.independent.co.uk/life-style/robot-manicure-tiktok-san-francisco-clockwork-b1859347.html (Accessed 28th June 2021)

'Where will the high street be in 2030?’, House of Commons, 2019, https:// houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/hclg-committee-high-streets-2030-report/index.html? utm_source=twittercard1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=paid (Accessed 21st June 2021)

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

33 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021) 34 B, Cotton, ‘RETAIL REPORT: ‘THE HIGH STREET STILL HAS CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IN THE UK’, Business Leader, 2021, https://www.businessleader.co.uk/retail-report-the-high-street-stillhas-cultural-importance-in-the-uk/111054/ (Accessed 10th June 2021)

Sparks, Leigh, ‘Britain's ruthless High Street leaves no room for stragglers like BHS’, The

35 Conservation Trust, 2016 http://hdl.handle.net/1893/29600 (Accessed 7th June 2021)

T, Goevert, and A, Towle “High Street Places: Doing a Lot with a Little.” Design for London: Experiments in Urban Thinking, edited by P, Bishop and L, Williams, UCL Press, London, 2020, pp. 73–111. www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv13xps62.11. (Accessed 10 June 2021)

S, Andrews, ‘Death or transformation: The future of the high street’, Keeping it simple, 2020,

37 https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-future-of-the-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

any footfall and forcing those already at breaking point to close their doors.38 As shops permanently shut their doors, traffic continued to be redirected online, resulting in reduced footfall on our high streets, Statista reported as of 2021, one fifth of the United Kingdom’s retail sales were via the 39 internet, confirming this permanent transition. The House of Commons reported business is being 40 removed from physical stores with the popularity of ‘showroom shopping’, where customers visit the high street, see what they like, return home and buy the item online, making physical shops a try on centre. It has been conclusively shown, as discussed by Cotton, ‘technology will sit at the 41 forefront of every customer-facing industry’. These arguments force us to assess how future plans 42 are approached for the best configuration of the high street.

To further comprehend the current state of the high street one has to understand an important factor that reoccurs in literature, originality. Currently, the high street lacks the appeal to visit the high street for that one brand you love or a concept you have never seen before, this notion was added to by the Tribune, reporting UK high streets ‘have become synonymous with big retail firms’, and 43 unfortunately ‘every street came to look the same’. No customer wants to see multiple of the 44 same shop in each town, Griffiths (et al) conveyed ‘the personal and local character of the shops is disappearing’. Portas also believes this factor plays an important role, observing ‘the cookie cutter 45

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/ 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021)

L, Dolden, ‘The Death of the British High Street’, TechRound, 2020, https://techround.co.uk/

39 news/the-death-of-the-british-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘Where will the high street be in 2030?’, House of Commons, 2019, https:// houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/hclg-committee-high-streets-2030-report/index.html? utm_source=twittercard1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=paid (Accessed 21st June 2021) 42 B, Cotton, ‘RETAIL REPORT: ‘THE HIGH STREET STILL HAS CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IN THE UK’’, Business Leader, 2021, https://www.businessleader.co.uk/retail-report-the-high-street-stillhas-cultural-importance-in-the-uk/111054/ (Accessed 10th June 2021)

A, Pendleton, ’It’s Time to Socialise the High Street’, Tribune, 2020, https://tribunemag.co.uk/

43 2020/08/its-time-to-socialise-the-high-street (Accessed 8th June 2021)

A, Shaw, ‘How to save the UK's crisis-hit High Streets’, BBC, 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

44 news/business-51094109 (Accessed 7th June 2021) 45S, Griffiths, A Dhanani,C Ellul, M, Haklay, D, Jeevendrampillai, N, Nikolova, P, Rickles, ‘Using space syntax and historical land-use data to interrogate narratives of high street ‘decline’ in two Greater London suburbs’. In: Kim, YO and Park, HT and Seo, KW, (eds.) Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Syntax Symposium, (pp. 036:1 - 036:15). Sejong University: Seoul, Korea, 2013

mediocrity so many of them have turned into is not what retail should be’. The repetition of high 46 streets makes them a one shop stop, go in, purchase what you need and leave because there is nothing worth staying for. Petter confirmed merchandise ‘tightly packed together and massproduced, have somewhat lost their appeal’, this points towards an opportunity to capitalise off of this shared attitude, creating an experience that makes people want to spend time and money.47

When it comes to spending time on the high street, customers want an enjoyable experience when supporting local businesses yet, that is not the reality. In 2018 it was reported ‘customers are not only buying more online but they are also looking for other attractions and experiences to combine with a high street shopping trip’, signifying other elements beside shops, are paramount for increased footfall. Explaining why people are more inclined to visit a destination with appeal, 48 such as luxurious departments stores like Harrods, although people may not spend what they normally would, an experience paired with quality customer service and attractive facades is guaranteed to gain customer interest as it makes shopping exciting, especially after the confining series of lockdowns.49 Considering the importance of enjoyable retail moments, Becker argues ‘retailers are responsible for the co-creation of customer experience’. This lack of experienced 50 and enthusiastic retailers may coincide with the decrease in footfall, since 2015 the High Streets Task Force reported a 5% decline each year. This argument marks importance of providing 51 customers with an enjoyable experience, as they give up time and money to often be disappointed. Although we have general understanding of how the high street has changed, the High Street Task

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021, https:// www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021)

O, Petter, ‘If we lose high street shopping, we lose an experience of incomparable joy’, The

47 Independent, 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/topshop-asos-boohoodebenhams-buy-end-of-high-street-shopping-b1795644.html (Accessed 11th June 2021)

J, Oddie, ’UK high street - what can be done to stop its decline?’, Mitchell Charlesworth, 2018, https://www.mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk/resources/articles/strength-in-numbers-autumn-2018/ukhigh-street-what-can-be-done-to-stop-its-decline/ (Accessed 15th June 2021)

O, Petter, ‘If we lose high street shopping, we lose an experience of incomparable joy’, The

49 Independent, 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/topshop-asos-boohoodebenhams-buy-end-of-high-street-shopping-b1795644.html (Accessed 11th June 2021) 50 J, Becker J.H, Betzing M, von Hoffen M, Niemann ‘A Tale of Two Cities: How High Streets Can Prevail in the Digital Age’. In: K, Riemer S, Schellhammer M, Meinert, (eds) Collaboration in the Digital Age. Springer,. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94487-6_14

‘REVIEW OF HIGH STREET FOOTFALL’, High Streets Task Force, 2020, https:// www.highstreetstaskforce.org.uk/media/b5dnkp4z/hstf-footfall-report-2020-for-publication.pdf ( Accessed 11th June 2021)

Force state the most valuable indicator is footfall, as that is not continuously monitored, a correct depiction of the damage is not achievable and may be far worse than current estimations.52

As shops close, an unattractive exterior emerges, with dozens of vacant units once contributing to a lively town centre, as Hubbard insisted, ‘unsightly, empty and abandoned shops repel potential shoppers’. A 2021 survey detected 14% of consumers avoided the high street because of 53 ‘unappealing and outdated shops’ confirming facade and aesthetics are integral to the high street.54 Some shops are left empty as those who own the units unfortunately, often control the businesses occupying the premises, moving to a factor literature has attributed as a significant part of the problem, landlords. A 2019 government report identified, ‘landlords are often the least visible stakeholders in high streets and town centres but are among the most important’, to tackle this blockade, they state the Landlord and Tenant act of 1954 should be revisited as currently it is affecting the ‘retail environment’. According to Portas, because of discounted rates received by 55 charity shops ‘Landlords are choosing the safe option of charity shops and small new retailers aren’t getting a look in’, controlling the direction and future of the high street, something that cannot afford to be controlled by someone with no appreciation for its condition. Furthermore, 56 MP Rachael Maskell illustrated they often own property for personal gain and a return on their investment rather than sharing concern for the high street, which is ultimately detrimental.57 In addition, Dillon-Robinson establishes long leases usually associated with retail units prevents businesses from evolving, even if that means performing better via an online platform as they are committed to units that now not needed for success, confirming power held by landlords. An 58

‘REVIEW OF HIGH STREET FOOTFALL’, High Streets Task Force, 2020, https:// www.highstreetstaskforce.org.uk/media/b5dnkp4z/hstf-footfall-report-2020-for-publication.pdf ( Accessed 11th June 2021)

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017 (Page 20)

‘Data: Five guaranteed ways to keep consumers flocking to the high street’, Retail Week, 2021,

54 https://www.retail-week.com/stores/data-five-guaranteed-ways-to-keep-consumers-flocking-tothe-high-street/7039674.article?authent=1 (Accessed 11th June 2021) 55 ‘High streets and town centres in 2030, House of Commons :Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’ ,UK Parliament, 2019, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1010/1010.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021) 56 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

57 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021) 58 R, Dillon - Robinson, ’20 Minute Neighbourhoods: Bringing life back to our empty town and city centres', New Civil Engineer, 2021, https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/20-minuteneighbourhoods-bringing-life-back-to-our-empty-town-and-city-centres-29-03-2021/ (Accessed 21st June 2021)

element that may appear minor to most, yet is a significant part of the problem that is not easy to solve, confining the high streets to a dated image and services that are no longer popular nor lucrative.

Another aspect prevalent in literature is accessibility and parking, often a stressful and expensive element of a trip to the high street. A Genecon study in 2011 recognised there were many factors affecting high street performance, including ‘spatial and physical factors’, parking and accessibility being one of them. MP Damien Moore made it clear accessibility was fundamental to attract 59 customers, by removing barriers that are a result of poor council planning or lack of funding it becomes easier to focus on other elements that further amplify the wellbeing of the high street. A 60 2019 government report found ‘free parking is bound to have a positive effect on high street footfall’61 indicating footfall is vital for success, therefore, whatever can be done to improve those figures ought to be implemented for the future as nowadays getting something delivered to your house is often cheaper than a trip to the high street. Currently, in a customer survey 22% attribute not visiting the high street to ‘difficult and expensive parking’ , if this problem was not ignored by 62 the government and was to be solved, it would definitely be an effective boost to the high street.

An additional element that may appear far removed to an outsider, yet is linked to the downfall in literature is Business Rates, an aspect discussed by scholars but scarcely mentioned in plans for future rectification. Business Rates have proved to be a large hinderance, as businesses have discovered, without tools to be financially stable or successful, there is no hope. MP Damien Moore stated the necessary modifications in parliament, ‘business rates need recalibration because it is absolutely clear that, under the current model, business will not be sustainable’. Portas has 63 continued to share her outrage on current UK business rates since her 2011 report, stating rates and taxes enforced for businesses are ‘unfair and totally outdated’ illustrating ‘it was damaging pre-

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

60 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021) 61 'High streets and town centres in 2030, House of Commons :Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’, UK Parliament, 2019, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1010/1010.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021) 62 ‘Data: Five guaranteed ways to keep consumers flocking to the high street’, Retail Week, 2021, https://www.retail-week.com/stores/data-five-guaranteed-ways-to-keep-consumers-flocking-tothe-high-street/7039674.article?authent=1 (Accessed 11th June 2021)

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

63 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021)

covid imagine how catastrophic it’ll be coming out of it’. During 2020, Tony Brown, the former 64 chief executive of the recently closed chain Beales commented on business rates confirming ‘the system we have got at the moment is absolute lunacy’. Lawler stated despite government 65 generosity during the pandemic with rate holidays, the inconsistent business ‘has been the final straw’ for retailers across the country. Their impact was also reiterated as fifty companies such as 66 Boots and Marks and Spencers wrote to the former chancellor Sajid David asking for changes on business rates, as they currently stand, they are making business impossible and deterring people 67 from starting businesses, let alone occupying a unit on the high street, another expense that online retailers do not incur.

A number of studies have started to examine the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic, an aspect that has ‘turbocharged’ their descent and is instrumental to understanding the high street.68 As interest in the high street has surged, one can assume it will dominate literature for the foreseeable future as ‘it will be some time before a clear picture emerges of the impact’. The head accountant 69 at PwC, Lisa Hooker, concurs, believing the full extent of the damage has yet to be discovered, painting an uncertain image for the future.70 Despite this, we can still recognise that it has transformed the world we live in, the Office for National Statistics disclosed the retail sector as one of the most impacted by Coronavirus, and is vital to understanding its current status as it 71

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021, https:// www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021)

Z, Wood, ‘Why UK high street retailers want urgent reform of business rates’, The Guardian,

65 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/06/why-uk-high-street-retailers-wanturgent-reform-of-business-rates (Accessed 22nd June 2021)

R, Lawler, ’Retail Trends 2021: Adapting to survive on the high street post-COVID’, DWF, 2021,

66 https://dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2021/2/adapting-to-survive-on-the-highstreet-post-covid (Accessed 8th June 2021)

Z, Wood, ’Why UK high street retailers want urgent reform of business rates’ The Guardian,

67 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/06/why-uk-high-street-retailers-wanturgent-reform-of-business-rates (Accessed 22nd June 2021)

J, Haigh, ‘Worst year for high street job losses in 25 years’, BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

68 news/business-55501049n(Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘The future of the high street, House of Commons, 10 December 2020’, Local Government

69 Association, 2020, https://www.local.gov.uk/parliament/briefings-and-responses/future-highstreet-house-commons-10-december-2020 (Accessed 7th June 2021)

E, Simpson, & D, Palumbo, ‘Pandemic impact 'yet to be felt' on High Streets’, BBC, 2021

70 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56378667 (Accessed 4th June 2021)

‘High streets in Great Britain: March 2020’, Office for National Statistics, 2020, https:// www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/ articles/highstreetsingreatbritain/march2020 (Accessed 4th June 2021)

‘accelerated future retail trends’. To reiterate the impact of the last 12 months, the chair of the 72 governments High Streets Task Force reported the pandemic has ‘made 10 years of change happen in 10 months’. As literature shows and Statista has reported, a growing threat to the high street 73 already existed, the pandemic has only ‘exacerbated’ the problem. For a greater insight, these 74 statistics provide a clear depiction of its impact on the high street, there was a 13.7% high street vacancy rate in the last quarter of 2020, as well as a shopping centre vacancy rate of 17.3% during the same period and a 47% increase in available units in London from 2019 to 2020.75

Across the United Kingdom in 2020, according to the Local Data Company an average of 48 shops, restaurants and various leisure venues closed every day, stressing the pandemics impact, and until 76 may of 2021, there has been 10 failed companies, with 1,668 stores closing and 24,199 employees affected including the closure of well known brands such as Jaeger, Jessops and Amanda Wakely, conveying the gravity of high street decline and verifying the current form is not viable. It is 77 important to consider that some may believe the condition of the high street is far removed from any other aspects of society however, 180,000 retail jobs were lost in 2020, with the projection of 200,000 jobs to be lost in 2021, conveying the impact on society and the economic state of the country. These changes are now important for the wellbeing of the country, not just the high 78 street, making the future strategy all the more important.

Thus far, the high street continues to be negatively impacted, most recently from the pandemic, but priorities have changed and scholars cannot avoid mentioning the positives that have surfaced as a

R, Page, ‘Six predictions for the future of retail’. Raconteur, 2020, https://www.raconteur.net/ retail/6-future-retail-trends/ (Accessed 21st June 2021)

E, Weinbren, ‘How can we stop Britain’s high streets becoming ghost towns?’ The Grocer,

73 2021, https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/high-street/how-can-we-stop-britains-high-streets-becomingghost-towns/654096.article (Accessed 7th June 2021)

E, Weinbren, ‘How can we stop Britain’s high streets becoming ghost towns?’ The Grocer,

75 2021, https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/high-street/how-can-we-stop-britains-high-streets-becomingghost-towns/654096.article (Accessed 7th June 2021)

S, Butler, ‘Great Britain's high streets lost more than 17,500 chain store outlets in 2020’, The

76 Guardian, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/14/great-britain-high-streetslost-more-than-17500-chain-stores-in-2020-covid (Accessed 4th June 2021)

'Who’s Gone Bust in Retail?’, Centre for Retail Research https://www.retailresearch.org/whosgone-bust-retail.html (Accessed 10th June 2021)

J, Haigh, ‘Worst year for high street job losses in 25 years’, BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

78 news/business-55501049n (Accessed 7th June 2021)

result. We have witnessed ‘a greater level of commitment to small independent businesses’. As 79 Portas communicated, the ‘surge in hyper localism’ experienced in the past year is not surprising,‘driven by the deep need we have to feel connected to other human beings, to relate, support, stand strong in the face of the storm’. Clearly ‘the pandemic has reminded us how 80 important our streets are’, such arguments provide an element of hope, without the coronavirus outbreak, there may have not been a future for the high streets. People are more willing to shop 81 local and support struggling businesses than travel into cities and put themselves at a greater risk therefore, locations such as Scarborough and Llandudno have been experiencing a ‘renaissance’ providing a hopeful image for the future.82

The Centre for Cities high street recovery tracker found Manchester and London in the bottom 10 in the footfall and spend categories, where as smaller towns such as Mansfield and Warrington are ranking in the top 10 in both.83 According to the Evening Standard, nearly two in three Britons continue to believe local businesses are important to the community, confirming the high street is valued by those who keep it going. A 2021 BBC report interviewed small business owners, 84 discovering people remaining at home due to offices being closed has enormously helped business.85 Analysis of spending habits further provided optimism for the high street as shopping locally appeared to be favoured over cities. On the basis of investigation by the High Street Task 86 Force, the pandemic has started to reverse the existing patterns, larger cities have been hit harder than small towns, because cities were without tourists and workers, experiencing a 75.9% drop in

'What next for the high street? Part two: A revival’, Deloitte, 2021, https://www2.deloitte.com/ content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-uk-what-next-for-the-highstreet-part2.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021)

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021, https://

80 www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021)

R, Bailey,‘There’s a way to bring our troubled high streets back to life’, Evening standard, 2020,

81 https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/high-streets-shops-retailers-a4466296.html (Accessed 20th June 2021)

S, Butler, ‘Great Britain's high streets lost more than 17,500 chain store outlets in 2020’, The

82 Guardian, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/14/great-britain-high-streetslost-more-than-17500-chain-stores-in-2020-covid (Accessed 4th June 2021)

‘High streets recovery tracker’, Centre for Cities, 2021, https://www.centreforcities.org/data/

83 high-streets-recovery-tracker/ (Accessed 10th June 2021) 84 J, Arlidge, ‘Can London’s high streets recover from the pandemic? Absolutely—here’s how…’, Evening Standard, 2021, https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/how-can-london-s-high-streetsrecover-from-the-pandemic-b930533.html (Accessed 10th June 2021)

‘Covid: Boom town Boroughbridge amid lockdown boost’, BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

85 news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-57349248 (Accessed 8th June 2021)

J, Haigh, ‘Worst year for high street job losses in 25 years’,BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

86 news/business-55501049n (Accessed 7th June 2021)

footfall between March and June of 2020, that does not remove the damage prior to 2020, but 87 signifies a chance to bring high streets back. This shift and hope for the future shared in academic discussions was confirmed by retail analyst Berg, who stated ‘we will experience our own version of the Roaring 20s’ observing desire to make shopping an experience to look forward to rather than scrolling online for hours.88

The majority of literature written on the current state of the high street includes references to the notable impact of the internet, confirming online shopping will remain a thorn in the side of high street retailers for the foreseeable future. Consequently, shops have to adapt to the new climate rather than reminisce about the old presentation of the high street, Portas recently insisted ‘there is too much nostalgia and too little optimism about the future of the British High Street’. Hubbard 89 concurs, asserting the ways in which people have planned to bring the high streets back to life they are trying to return to a time that is not realistic. Furthermore, Andrews pertains to more of an 90 optimistic view than other scholars stating, ‘The high street isn’t dying- it’s changing’ , despite 91 varying arguments the clear consensus is the high street is at a point of no return.

Attempts to Rejuvenate the High Street: What can be done?

As the prior section discussed, recent changes have caused a retrogression to the state of the high street, resulting in some concerning figures, yet that does not mean organisations and the government are not attempting to tackle current problems. After understanding the ‘minefield of issues’ that run parallel, a number of initiatives have been launched with the intent of bringing it back to life. Literature confirms ‘challenges for the UK high street have never been more real’ 92

‘REVIEW OF HIGH STREET FOOTFALL’, High Streets Task Force 2020, https:// www.highstreetstaskforce.org.uk/media/b5dnkp4z/hstf-footfall-report-2020-for-publication.pdf ( Accessed 11th June 2021)

R, Page, ‘Six predictions for the future of retail', Raconteur, 2020, https://www.raconteur.net/

88 retail/6-future-retail-trends/ (Accessed 21st June 2021) 89 Iqbal, Nosheen, ‘Don’t save the high street – change it completely, says retail guru Mary Portas’, The Guardian, 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/06/dont-savethe-high-street-change-it-completely-says-retail-guru-mary-portas (Accessed 8th June 2021)

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017 (Page 26)

S, Andrews, ‘Death or transformation: The future of the high street’, Keeping it simple, 2020,

91 https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-future-of-the-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021) 92 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

and this is the time for restructuring ‘to ensure its survival’. As disclosed by Arlidge and 93 94 Bailey , the pandemic brought renewed attention to the wellbeing of our streets and the prevalence 95 of community, than the sole focus of where people will spend disposable income, however we cannot forget the two elements are linked and must be approached as a unit. Philips (et al) mentioned towns could also be locations to combat the feeling of isolation the past 12 months has created, harnessing a new role that provides more than shopping, but an escape for those feeling alienated from society, as well as ‘promoting healthier living for all age groups’, which should be factored into efforts to rejuvenate.96

These arguments demonstrate needs of the public should remain at the forefront of any funding programme or initiative, ‘they need to be spaces and places that people want to be in’ , Phillips (et 97 al) concurs, stating ‘a future town needs economic, social, and creative activity. Above all it needs people.’ Dobson ‘advocates for a citizen - centred agenda for town centres’ confirming this 98 strategy continues to be reiterated after investigations are conducted. Furthermore, MP Kelly 99 Tolhurst recognised ‘any high street development should always be supported by local businesses and stakeholders’ yet she asserts with the right planning ‘our high streets have a solid future’. It 100 is important to reiterate that individuals decide the future through choices and habits, therefore, their interests should be the foundation the high street is built upon.

R, Lawler, ‘Retail Trends 2021: Adapting to survive on the high street post-COVID’, DWF, 2021, https://dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2021/2/adapting-to-survive-on-the-highstreet-post-covid (Accessed 8th June 2021) 94 J, Arlidge, ‘Can London’s high streets recover from the pandemic? Absolutely—here’s how…’, Evening Standard, 2021, https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/how-can-london-s-high-streetsrecover-from-the-pandemic-b930533.html (Accessed 10th June 2021)

R, Bailey, ‘There’s a way to bring our troubled high streets back to life’, Evening standard, 2020,

95 https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/high-streets-shops-retailers-a4466296.html (Accessed 20th June 2021) 96 J, Phillips, N, Walford, A, Hockey & L, Sparks, ‘Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’’, Planning Theory & Practice, 22:1, 2021,11-26, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2021.1875030

M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/

97 uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021) 98 J, Phillips, N, Walford, A, Hockey, & L, Sparks, ‘Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’’, Planning Theory & Practice, 22:1, 2021,11-26, DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2021.1875030

J, Dobson, How to Save Our Town Centres: A Radical Agenda for the Future of High Streets. 1st ed., Bristol University Press, 2015, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t895wk. (Accessed 17 June 2021).

‘The Future of the High Street’, UK Parliament, 2020, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/

100 2020-12-10/debates/302739B4-51D2-44B9-9AA1-133559146039/TheFutureOfTheHighStreet (Accessed 7th June 2021)

When planning for the future, it is important to recognise high streets are not all the same, inhabited by people of all ages and interests alongside different geographical locations that impact factors already mentioned, as, ‘the way in which they are affected by and respond to change is diverse and varied’. Portas concurs, stating attempts to solve deep routed issues cannot be a ‘one size fits 101 all’, because a plan may improve one area and be the breaking point for another.102 For example, 103 parking, a factor attributed as a barrier to footfall on the high street, but as a governmental report discussed, it is ‘very place specific’ and therefore, like other strategies for changes on the high street should be approached in accordance with data that assesses the most important and successful way of creating footfall.104

To reconstruct high streets, Shaw asserts they need to be ‘places you can ‘work, rest and play’. A 105 point found in other sources such as a House of Commons report, proposing they should become ‘the intersection of human life and activity’ specifically because of the internet as there will ‘be less and less face to face communication and humans want places to meet’. The report conducted by 106 the UK communities and local government committee recognised they will be successful if they present themselves through ‘activity- based community gathering places where retail is a smaller part of a wider range of uses and activities’. Wrigley and Brookes also recognise for survival 107 they ‘have to be about more than simply retailing’. In the same vein, Professor Ryan illustrated 108

101

‘UNDERSTANDING HIGH STREET PERFORMANCE’, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Genecon, 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/31823/11-1402-understanding-high-street-performance.pdf (Accessed 11th June 2021) 102 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

103

‘UNDERSTANDING HIGH STREET PERFORMANCE’, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Genecon, 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/31823/11-1402-understanding-high-street-performance.pdf (Accessed 11th June 2021) 104 ‘High streets and town centres in 2030, House of Commons :Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’ ,UK Parliament, 2019, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1010/1010.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021)

A, Shaw, ‘How to save the UK's crisis-hit High Streets’, BBC, 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

105 news/business-51094109 (Accessed 7th June 2021)

106

‘Where will the high street be in 2030?’, House of Commons, 2019, https:// houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/hclg-committee-high-streets-2030-report/index.html? utm_source=twittercard1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=paid (Accessed 21st June 2021) 107 ‘High streets and town centres in 2030, House of Commons :Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’ , UK Parliament, 2019, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1010/1010.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021)

N, Wrigley, & E, Brookes, ‘Evolving High Streets: Resilience & Reinvention', Economic & Social

108 Research Council, 2014, https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/371883/1/ Opinion_Pieces_Southampton_Nov_2014.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021)

for survival ‘offering more than financial transactions’ is key. These arguments collectively state 109 shopping is no longer the way to sustain a high street, there now has to be more offered to customers for them to return and enjoy their high street.

The high street must be approached from various angles, not solely with the motivation of filling empty units, but thinking carefully about the businesses going into properties and what they can positively contribute to the landscape of the high street. Suggestions to tackle this problem have 110 been varying, initiatives prior to the pandemic shared different views to what is suggested now, but one thing remains the same, something has to change. Portas wrote in 2011 ‘high streets must be ready to experiment, try new things, take risks and become destinations again’ she also illustrates ‘the only hope our high streets have of surviving in the future is to recognise what’s happened and deliver something new’. Adding they ‘should run more like businesses’ to thrive the way people 111 believe they can. A 112 Deloitte report asserts a similar argument regarding experimentation stating ‘the high street is the ideal place to introduce new concepts and formats’ although this omits that 113 experimentation could potentially lead to some failures, trying something new is better than a dormant high street. Parker (et al) goes into further detail when it comes to experimentation focusing on the four R’s (Reinventing, Restructuring, Repositioning and Rebranding), using specific areas that benefitted from each method as examples, Ballymena, Northern Ireland succeeded by reinventing, ‘a strategy that refers to taking action’ through pop up venues or temporary occupants to attract traffic via new means. The towns of Congleton and Wrexham 114 benefitted from restructuring which ‘involves large urban transformation projects’ amelioration in a

109

R, Jones, ‘The future of our high streets: Less retail and more experiences’, ITV, 2021, https:// www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-03-10/the-future-of-our-high-streets-less-retail-and-moreexperiences (Accessed 18th June 2021)

110

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017

M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/

111 uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021) 112 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

'What next for the high street? Part two: A revival’, Deloitte, 2021, https://www2.deloitte.com/

113 content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-uk-what-next-for-the-highstreet-part2.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021) 114 C, Parker, N, Ntounis S, Millington, S, Quin, and F.R, Castillo-Villar, "Improving the vitality and viability of the UK High Street by 2020: Identifying priorities and a framework for action”, Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 10 No. 4, 2017, pp. 310-348. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/JPMD-03-2017-0032

physical sense such as parking improvements. Repositioning115 was embraced by Morley, ‘identifying purpose or vision through the effective gathering and analysis of relevant data’ this ‘enables towns to position themselves relevant to their catchment, to other towns and to trends’.116 Lastly, Altrincham found success through Rebranding, ‘a communicative strategy aimed at managing the reputation’, Altrincham is discussed amongst scholars as an example who were 117 rewarded after the risk of experimentation, a solution suggested by Portas as of 2010, 30% of 118 shops were vacant, and then a space opened for various independent kitchens, bars and restaurants to offer their products, without commitment to their own unit in 2014 named the Market House.119 Although seen solely as a positive, Naylor believes methods suggested by Portas120 and exemplified through Altrincham, could be viewed ‘a bit myopically middle class’ which in extreme gentrification, can ‘alienate residents’.121

To combat this problem, an inclusive variety of businesses and incentives for the business owners need to be offered to attract different demographics to the same location, eliminating concern that

115

C, Parker, N, Ntounis S, Millington, S, Quin, and F.R, Castillo-Villar, "Improving the vitality and viability of the UK High Street by 2020: Identifying priorities and a framework for action”, Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 10 No. 4, 2017, pp. 310-348. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/JPMD-03-2017-0032

116

117

118

M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

T, Naylor, ‘We can revive Britain’s high streets. But developers stand in the way’, The Guardian,

119 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/14/britain-high-streets-developersfootfall (Accessed 7th June 2021) 120 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

T, Naylor, ‘We can revive Britain’s high streets. But developers stand in the way’, The Guardian,

121 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/14/britain-high-streets-developersfootfall (Accessed 7th June 2021)

accompanies gentrification.122 In accordance with Naylor123, the concept of gentrification runs throughout Hubbards argument, stating dramatically changing the high street may be enjoyed by people but also could exclude many, including the working class making the high street not accessible for all, something that needs to be avoided at all costs.124 Important aspects are identified that ought to be considered when planning, believing businesses that take vacant units determine the future landscape of the high street, certain shops such as boutiques, galleries and innovative/ alternative coffee shops will attract ‘a bohemian disposition’ that may alter who will travel to the high street and may ‘perpetuate negative stereotypes of the British working class, their tastes and their cultures’, creating a narrative of their wants are not worth being accommodated to. This 125 argument states regardless of the plan implemented and changes made, the risk of creating an unrecognisable high street is high, however, it could be said an unidentifiable high street would be favourable to what we currently have.

Despite existing concerns for the future of the high street, the recent decisions made by the government show acknowledgement of a problem and are moving towards a different high street. Government funds such as the ‘Future High Streets Fund’ was launched with the purpose of aiding high streets back to health, across 72 areas in the UK £830 million will be invested to ‘transform their high streets into vibrant hubs for future generations and to protect and create thousands of jobs.’ To provide examples of the funding that will be given to different areas, Penzance, 126 Cornwall has been awarded just shy of £10.5 million and Rochdale in Greater Manchester have been given just over £17 million. This budget provides an optimistic promise, recognising a 127 desperate need for financial aid for these towns and businesses to begin to recover from years of damage. In 2021, the government continued to commit to improving our local areas introducing the ‘Levelling Up Fund’, £4.8 billion will be provided to help ‘support town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects and cultural and heritage assets’ this fund continues to create a

122

Naylor, Tony, ‘We can revive Britain’s high streets. But developers stand in the way’, The Guardian, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/14/britain-high-streetsdevelopers-footfall (Accessed 7th June 2021)

Naylor, Tony, ‘We can revive Britain’s high streets. But developers stand in the way’, The

123 Guardian, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/14/britain-high-streetsdevelopers-footfall (Accessed 7th June 2021)

124

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017

125

P, Hubbard, The battle for the high street: retail gentrification, class and disgust, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017 (Page 67 and 9)

‘£830 million funding boost for high streets’, GOV.UK, 2020, https://www.gov.uk/government/

126 news/830-million-funding-boost-for-high-streets (accessed 7th June 2021)

‘More high streets set for funding boost as reopening accelerates’, GOV.UK, 2021 https://

127 www.gov.uk/government/news/more-high-streets-set-for-funding-boost-as-reopeningaccelerates (Accessed 7th June 2021)

hopeful image for the future, but local councils must think wisely of how to use this rare opportunity.128

Continuing to look at government action, in 2020 the government passed the ‘build, build, build’ regulation, allowing ‘existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing’ appearing as a great opportunity to create accommodation from spaces that lay empty, bringing a larger population and an economic boost to the high street, yet, this poses a significant shift, if most of it is turned into housing, that indicates no thought or concern for the high street. The think tank SMF aligns with the law, expressing their want for the 129 legacy of the high street to disappear replacing the once vibrant shops and businesses with homes, but omits the impact of this law on the feeling of community that the high street has previously brought and holds the potential to bring to future generations.130 However, Portas states ‘simply shoving homes on the high street is not an answer’ detailing ‘who wants to live in a ghost town of flats with no centre of gravity’. Concurring with Portas,131 132 In Your Area reported if parts of the high street are transferred into housing ‘this will seriously reduce the amount of money available to regenerate high streets’, asserting this initiative could be far more damaging than rejuvenating.133

Despite possible setbacks, companies have already began to show how to get the most out of the current state of the high street such as the brand ‘Toast’, creating a ‘fashion-meets-experience’ hosting workshops and various events as well as selling cutting edge, high quality clothes.134 Government reports reinforce Toasts’ strategy continuing to reiterate business owners need to use

128

‘Levelling Up Fund: prospectus’, GOV.UK, 2021, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ levelling-up-fund-prospectus (Accessed 21st June 2021)

‘Build, Build, Build’, GOV.UK, 2020, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-build-build-

129 build (Accessed 7th June 2021)

D.A, Adegeest, ‘A UK think tank proposes to "let high street shops die”’ Fashion United,

130 2020, https://fashionunited.uk/news/retail/a-uk-think-tank-proposes-to-let-high-street-shops-die/ 2020072349971 (Accessed 15th June 2021)

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021https://

131 www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021)

M, Portas, ‘The high street needs a long-term health plan’, Financial Times, 2021https://

132 www.ft.com/content/9f78fca8-f120-49e2-bf3d-8022283cc75b (Accessed 15th June 2021) 133 ‘How can we save the high street? What to do with empty department stores and shopping centres’, In your Area, 2021, https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/how-can-we-save-the-highstreet-what-to-do-with-empty-department-stores-and-shopping-centres/ (Accessed 8th June 2021) 134 J, Arlidge, ‘Can London’s high streets recover from the pandemic? Absolutely—here’s how…’, Evening Standard, 2021, https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/how-can-london-s-high-streetsrecover-from-the-pandemic-b930533.html (Accessed 10th June 2021)

their shops to produce ‘opportunities to interact with customers that cannot be found online’.135 This supports the comments of Dr Richard Hames, who believes the different aspects ought to be offered from retail spaces in the future will reveal a ‘retail theatre’ that will emerge during the 2020s. Whilst brands such as Toast adapt, there is the new venture of ‘Amazon - Go’ bringing 136 the internet to real life and actively ‘challenging the renovation of the classic British high street’.137 Which is where VirtualHighstreet.uk enters the arena, combining the element of supporting independent retailers but also catering to the popularity of online shopping, launched during the struggle of the pandemic to encourage people to be more aware of what high streets could deliver with the aim of ‘supporting local shopping and local consumer loyalty and keeping our town centres vibrant’.138 The purpose is to shift a wealth of people from looking online for something as a reflex, opening their eyes to independent retailers and stores that would fulfil them much more than a website. As of right now they have launched in five areas but considering our current 139 circumstances it will expand and provide this innovative service to other communities across the UK, catering to the needs of all shoppers and hopefully generating the needed footfall.140

Although cities are not the focus of this report, an important initiative that ought to be mentioned is ‘High streets for all’ launched by the London assembly, expressing a new found focus as ‘high streets and town centres are where some of the most damaging economic impacts of the pandemic are being felt’ and as they act as ‘social glue’ they are extremely important to society, concurring 141 with Griffiths and Bailey. The initiative aims to ‘support London’s diverse communities, public 142 institutions and businesses to form active partnerships’, illustrating that alongside other

135

‘High streets and town centres in 2030, House of Commons :Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’ , UK Parliament, 2019, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201719/cmselect/cmcomloc/1010/1010.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021)

R, Page, ‘Six predictions for the future of retail’, Raconteur, 2020, https://www.raconteur.net/

136 retail/6-future-retail-trends/ (Accessed 21st June 2021)

L, Dolden, ‘The Death of the British High Street’, TechRound, 2020, https://techround.co.uk/

137 news/the-death-of-the-british-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

138 Virtual High Street, https://virtualhighstreet.uk/about (Accessed 14th July 2021)

139 Virtual High Street, https://virtualhighstreet.uk/about (Accessed 14th July 2021)

140 Virtual High Street, https://virtualhighstreet.uk/about (Accessed 14th July 2021)

141

‘High Streets for All Challenge’, London Assembly, 2021, https://www.london.gov.uk/ publications/high-streets-all-challenge (Accessed 8th June 2021)

R, Bailey,‘There’s a way to bring our troubled high streets back to life’, Evening standard,

142 2020, https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/high-streets-shops-retailers-a4466296.html (Accessed 20th June 2021) and S, Griffiths, A, Dhanani, C, Ellul, M, Haklay, D, Jeevendrampillai, N, Nikolova, P, Rickles, ‘Using space syntax and historical land-use data to interrogate narratives of high street ‘decline’ in two Greater London suburbs’ In: YO, Kim, and HT, Park, and KW, Seo,(eds.) Proceedings of the Ninth International Space Syntax Symposium. (pp. 036:1 - 036:15), Sejong University: Seoul, Korea, 2013.

governmental funding, a positive influence may be achieved by creating a community within the high streets.143 In the same vein, the movement of ‘Save the High Street’ is ‘on a mission to ensure diverse and successful high streets, now and for the long term’ launched with the objective of supporting small, independent businesses with the future goal of creating the ‘High Street 3.0’.144 These initiatives are important as they show passion and motivation to rebuild our high streets, we have to wait to see if they can make a positive change.

What the public want from the high street is at times impossible to predict, making devising a strategy all the more difficult. Most recently, needs have altered due to the pandemic and routines being disturbed, which changes what is demanded from the high street, Weinbrein embraces as people now work from home, using the space on the high street as shared working spaces is gaining traction, as without no need to travel to the office creating a communal area to work may provide the interactive element that was previously loved, without travel time. Because people are 145 working at home, Deloitte acknowledged ‘money that would have been spent in city centres is likely to be redirected to the suburbs’ as well as stating 59% of consumers surveyed opted to shop at local stores to help them during the pandemic, this demonstrates that renewing these spaces would not go amiss and would be received with public support.146 Deliotte also recognised the changed rapport between home and the workplace can be used by the high street to emerge a key player and location to society.147 Social Market Foundation also reported with regards to work space, stating because of ‘hybrid home working’ the space once needed is no longer, communal areas maybe a great way to use empty property and again unite a group of people that may feel detached, fitting with the ‘work rest and play’ model.148 149

143

‘High Streets for All Challenge’, London Assembly, 2021, https://www.london.gov.uk/ publications/high-streets-all-challenge (Accessed 8th June 2021)

144 Save the High Street, https://savethehighstreet.org (Accessed 8th June 2021)

145

E, Weinbren, ‘How can we stop Britain’s high streets becoming ghost towns?’ The Grocer, 2021, https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/high-street/how-can-we-stop-britains-high-streets-becomingghost-towns/654096.article (Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘What next for the high street? Part two: A revival’, Deloitte, 2021, https://www2.deloitte.com/

146 content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-uk-what-next-for-the-highstreet-part2.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021)

‘What next for the high street? Part two: A revival’, Deloitte, 2021, https://www2.deloitte.com/

147 content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-uk-what-next-for-the-highstreet-part2.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021) 148 ‘Health on the High Street: Embedding healthy living into urban regeneration after the pandemic’, Social Market Foundation, 2021, https://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ 2021/01/Health-on-the-high-street-January-21.pdf (Accessed 21st June 2021)

A, Shaw, ‘How to save the UK's crisis-hit High Streets’, BBC, 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

149 news/business-51094109 (Accessed 7th June 2021)

When appealing to the public, as the young people are future customers they too, need to be engaged at an early age. Presently, 18% of the younger generation are likely to steer clear of the current high street150 and in a recent survey, young people aged between 17-24 revealed their want for a high street in line with Shaw a mixture ‘of residential, retail and leisure’,151 providing an 152 insight to what will gain support from customers. Literature has confirmed young people are increasingly shopping in a more ethical manner, demonstrated in the 2021 Deliotte report, as one in five customers halted using a business after poor responses to the pandemic in terms of protocols for safety, confirming a new appreciation for the world we live in, also this ‘shift to localism, it could also indicate that customers are making purchasing decisions based on ethical considerations’.153 Iqbal concurred, writing ‘sustainability, innovation and standing for something aren’t just buzzwords for marketers’ they are proving to be ‘keys to building brand loyalty among younger customers who demand the companies they buy from show social responsibility’ this influences what shops appear on the high street but more importantly ‘what sticks’ and the forecast is a ‘mix of retail, entertainment, culture and wellbeing.’154

The UK have made initial steps to improve their high streets, yet rejuvenations have been successfully executed in countries around the globe, which can be utilised to evaluate if similar initiatives can be implemented or avoided in future strategies. The ‘main street programme’, launched in 1977 ‘to investigate this widespread and seemingly surprising decline of America’s older and historic main streets’ which are equivalent to the UK’s high streets. With the goal of 155 reviving struggling downtown areas to compete with larger cities, in 2002, over 1,650 U.S

150

S, Andrews, ‘Death or transformation: The future of the high street’, Keeping it simple, 2020, https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-future-of-the-high-street/ (Accessed 7th June 2021)

A, Shaw, ‘How to save the UK's crisis-hit High Streets’, BBC, 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/

151 news/business-51094109 (Accessed 7th June 2021)

‘Data: Five guaranteed ways to keep consumers flocking to the high street’, Retail Week,

152 2021, https://www.retail-week.com/stores/data-five-guaranteed-ways-to-keep-consumersflocking-to-the-high-street/7039674.article?authent=1 (Accessed 11th June 2021)

‘What next for the high street? Part two: A revival’, Deloitte, 2021, https://www2.deloitte.com/

153 content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/deloitte-uk-what-next-for-the-highstreet-part2.pdf (Accessed 18th June 2021)

N, Iqbal, ‘Don’t save the high street – change it completely, says retail guru Mary Portas’, The

154 Guardian, 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/06/dont-save-the-high-streetchange-it-completely-says-retail-guru-mary-portas (Accessed 8th June 2021)

K,L, Smith, ‘You Say You Want a Devolution? Lessons from the Main Street Program’, Local

155 Economy, Vol. 23, No. 1, 2008, 86–93, DOI: 10.1080/02690940801906668 (Accessed 15th June 2021)

communities took part. The program confirmed initiatives to repair primary streets in local areas 156 can be successful, as since 1980 it has created 226,900 jobs and 56,300 new businesses.157 Smith stated when discussing the programme, ‘retail is always a market follower, never a market leader’ therefore, initiatives must keep this at the forefront even before the rise of the internet, updating was necessary to remain relevant in the retail sector.158 The program honed in on four areas of focus to achieve their goal, design, promotion, organisation and economic restructuring, which could be interpreted as looking at these main streets through a business lens, something Portas is an accordance with and believes could help the UK high streets to evolve into a thriving entity , 159 which is exemplified through the main street programme, as Smith states it as ‘one of the most successful economic development programmes in the United States’.160

Within Europe, France, a country that is often known to pride themselves on buying fresh food from local markets and in order to maintain these shopping habits a tax on ‘internet giants’ was introduced to preserve the health of towns and avoid market domination by websites such as Amazon, who exist as an ongoing threat to physical shops in the UK. However, in some cases 161 looking at the success of other countries is counter productive as countries share different cultures and traditions that impact how they purchase goods, for example in the United Kingdom fresh produce is not a daily tradition that encourages people to visit towns as an interviewer stated to Parry ‘people in France shop differently’. Looking at initiatives, Mulhouse in eastern France, 162

156

C,A, Smith, ‘Predicting Success or Failure on Main Street: Urban Revitalization and the Kentucky Main Street Program, 1979-1999,’ Southeastern Geographer, Volume 42, Number 2, 2002, pp. 248-261, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2002.0022 (Accessed 15th June 2021) 157 C, A, Smith, ‘Predicting Success or Failure on Main Street: Urban Revitalization and the Kentucky Main Street Program, 1979-1999’, Southeastern Geographer, Volume 42, Number 2, 2002, pp. 248-261, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2002.0022 (Accessed 15th June 2021)

K,L, Smith, ‘You Say You Want a Devolution? Lessons from the Main Street Program’, Local

158 Economy, Vol. 23, No. 1, 2008, 86–93, DOI: 10.1080/02690940801906668 (Accessed 15th June 2021) 159 M, Portas, ‘The Portas Review’ 2011, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6292/2081646.pdf (Accessed 7th June 2021)

K,L, Smith, ‘You Say You Want a Devolution? Lessons from the Main Street Program’, Local

160 Economy, Vol. 23, No. 1, 2008, 86–93, DOI: 10.1080/02690940801906668 (Accessed 15th June 2021

T, Parry, ‘Why French high streets are thriving more than ever – while their UK counterparts are

161 on their last legs’, The Mirror, 2019, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/french-high-streetsthriving-more-14206183 (Accessed 15th June 2021) 162 T, Parry ‘Why French high streets are thriving more than ever – while their UK counterparts are on their last legs’, The Mirror, 2019, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/french-high-streetsthriving-more-14206183 (Accessed 15th June 2021)

once viewed as ‘a symbol of the death of the European High Street’.163 In order to attract footfall, they assured shops and services were unique to the town, with 75% of new openings being just that, creating intrigue and one of the only towns in France where more businesses were opening than shutting their doors. The revival of Mulhouse shows people crave individuality, making sure 164 small businesses open on high streets than chains is vital for the future which thanks to the pandemic, has started to become reality as ‘many small Indies across the region are thriving’.165 Confirming, if the high street was not dominated by conglomerates that were solely economically motivated and was filled with independents that truly care about what they are selling and how they present it to customers, the high street may be in a very different place. However, one must consider that this recent support may die down once the world returns to normal, putting more pressure on creating a sustainable high street.

The last notion of ’20 minute neighbourhoods’ shows great promise, countries such as Australia have been in full support of this initiative and is now beginning to pick up speed at home, essentially the 20 minute neighbourhood has been created with the public in mind, defined as ‘all about ‘living locally’—giving people the ability to meet most of their daily needs within a 20minute return walk from home, with access to safe cycling and local transport options.’ Dillon-166 Robinson argued the high street may reemerge in this form, like others involved in this discussion, she argues ‘putting people at the heart of a town’s design will be key to help our high streets recover and our economy bounce back’, and 20 minute neighbourhoods could be a great way to achieve a healthy high street. Additionally, SMF argues the pandemic has reinforced the future 167 aim of keeping the wellbeing of the population in mind when designing for the future and this

163

A, Chrisafis, ’From bleak to bustling: how one French town solved its high street crisis’, The Guardian, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/20/from-bleak-to-bustling-howone-french-town-beat-the-high-street-blues-mulhouse (Accessed 15th June 2021)

A, Chrisafis, ’From bleak to bustling: how one French town solved its high street crisis’, The

164 Guardian, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/20/from-bleak-to-bustling-howone-french-town-beat-the-high-street-blues-mulhouse (Accessed 15th June 2021) 165 H, Baker, ’Covid could lead to revival of 1970s-style high street', says independent Wiltshire jewellery shop owner, Business Live, 2020, https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/ covid-could-lead-revival-1970s-19467245 (Accessed 18th June 2021)

166

’20-minute neighbourhoods’, Victoria State Government, 2021, https:// www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-for-melbourne/plan-melbourne/20minute-neighbourhoods (Accessed 21st June 2021) 167 R, Dillon - Robinson, ’20 Minute Neighbourhoods: Bringing life back to our empty town and city centres', New Civil Engineer, 2021, https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/20-minuteneighbourhoods-bringing-life-back-to-our-empty-town-and-city-centres-29-03-2021/ (Accessed 21st June 2021)

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The Current State

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High Street Revival and 'Repair Cafes'