Retail guru Mary Portas has declared Britain’s high street is in a state of emergency and action must be taken soon unless it is to disappear forever. In a report, commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron, Portas has recommended a range of planning policy incentives as well as free parking in town centres to encourage shoppers back to the high street.
Her report also recommends relaxing licensing rules for market stalls to make it easier for people to set up stands, cutting red tape and regulations for high street traders and the launch of a national market day.
According to Portas: “The phenomenal growth of online retailing, the rise of shopping by mobile, the speed and sophistication of the major national and international retailers, the epic and immersive experiences offered by today’s new breed of shopping mall, combined with a crippling recession, have all conspired to change today’s retail landscape.”
Writing in The Telegraph, Portas explained: “Fundamentally, I believe that our high streets are uniquely placed to deliver something new. I believe that they can be lively, dynamic, exciting and social places that give a sense of belonging and trust to a community. That sense of belonging, as the recent riots clearly demonstrated, has been eroded and, in some instances, eradicated. “
Overall Portas is hopeful for Britain’s high street shops: “If my review is the catalyst for change – encouraging shopkeepers, landlords, local councils and consumers to engage with an alternative, more optimistic vision of tomorrow, where everyone benefits – then it will have been worthwhile.”
The full report is available on www.bis.gov.uk and www.maryportas.com.