Britain's changing High Street

The BBC reports today (Link) how retailers in the UK are still feeling the effects of the recession and changing consumer trends have both helped changed the face of many High streets. 


The report notes the major growth has being through supermarkets, including convenience divisions, which has seen a 12% growth between 2009-2010, discount stores and hair and beauty salons, have a 11% growth over the same period. Off licenses perhaps as a result of the aggressive pricing of the supermarkets and travel agents; perhaps as online competition has increased saw the only year on year drops of 19 and 1% respectively.


I was intrigued to see that my own region of Yorkshire has the highest number of vacant shops in Britain at 18.1%, all 3 northern regions occupy the top 3 spots and interestingly Wales and Scotland have the least number of vacant units at 9.6% and 10.6% respectively.


The Sun newspaper have drawn up a 10 point charter 'to save our local shops, for local authorities', which can be viewed here. This contains many valid and not necessarily ground breaking points, such as ensuring affordable rates and grants for shopkeepers to improve the appearance of there stores. Unfortunately the article misses the point by blaming local authorities rather than changing consumer trends for the mess that many high streets are in, it is also rather hypocritical of The Apprentice Winner Michelle Dewberry to be advocating the high street before  shamelessly plugging her own online retail offering. 

Much blame is also given over to the large supermarket chains, for forcing smaller businesses out with aggressive pricing policies, but yet again is this not down to consumer trends; after all nobody is forcing anybody Tesco. Convenience and lifestyles dictate that people will. 


The Times (Here) point to the contrast between the city centre and traditional high street, making the point that only large centres and new retail developments can offer the sort of space that the major retailers desire. 


Shed retailing can fill a demand in some cases, but is more often than not located away from the traditional centre and is bland and uninspiring in terms of design, while discouraging of linked trips. 


So what is the answer to our High street woes?


Of course there is no simple solution and perhaps some may argue, why try and preserve something that is increasingly  un-viable. 


 More effort should be made to utilise town centre space for a wider range of uses, encouraging more residential and office space on upper levels should ensure a range of constant passing trade for local businesses. 


Local authorities should encourage a greater variety of ground floor uses, perhaps art, music or community space. A singular mass of bars and takeaways should be discouraged. 

With regards to locating major retailers back into town centres, future 'shed' style retail schemes should face onto main roads, perhaps locating car parking on the upper levels. These schemes should compliment the town centre not detract from them.

Councils should also look at car parking and public transport strategies. Perhaps developing free buses from local housing estates is an one option as well as making high streets bike friendly with a decent supply of storage racks and developing localised cycle routes is another possibility  .