The all-too familiar sight of high streets with boarded up shop fronts and lacking essentials such as butchers, grocers and bakeries are to be given a multi-million-pound boost, the Government announced this weekend (31 January).
The £150m cash injection will be targeted in areas hit hardest in recent years and most in need of being “brought back together,” it added.
It is hoped the new funds will help turn the tide on decline and restore a sense of pride people feel in their local area – with high streets themselves serving as “vital meeting points for communities,” it added.
Communities will bring people back to their local high streets by supporting local, independent businesses, improving neglected shopfronts and open empty units. This will be the first step in the upcoming High Streets Strategy, announced earlier this week alongside plans to bring an extra 2,400 police officers to communities.
The Government said the latest announcement will build on action already taken to restore pride in communities, empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops and vapes stores and rejuvenating “over 330 of the most deprived communities through the Pride in Place programme.”
Trade bodies have, however, expressed scepticism. Last week, the British Indepndent Retailers Association (Bira) gave a warning the newly announced business rates cuts for pubs would not help our high streets.
Communities Secretary, Steve Reed OBE (left), said: “Our high streets are the beating heart of Britain - where communities come together and local businesses can grow.
“Town centres have suffered from high streets falling into decline, and that’s why we’re taking action to turn the tide with this crucial investment and more to come.
“We’ve listened to people and that’s why we’re giving them the power and control to breathe new life back into our high streets and restore the sense of pride communities feel.”
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) said the investment was encouraging and aligned with recent research showing communities want to take pride in their high streets.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO, said: “Recent research from Southampton University fully supports our belief that people want to be proud of their high streets, and we’re pleased to see the Government listening to communities.
“It’s particularly encouraging that spending decisions will be determined by local people, and we hope local businesses will be involved in those decisions. Investment in the public realm, facilities, accessibility and property will all be crucial. We’d also like to see historic independent retail businesses, often operating in historic buildings, receive support to share their stories with the wider community.”
However, Goodacre warned physical improvements alone would not revive high streets without addressing the tax burden on businesses: “For this to deliver lasting change, we need viable businesses on our high streets meeting customer needs.
“The harsh reality is that this substantial investment could be completely undermined by the burden of ever-increasing business rates forcing high street businesses to close, whilst preferential treatment is given to retail parks and large online giants.”
More details on the new High Streets Strategy - including how funding will be allocated to specific places - will be announced in the coming months.
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