A new House of Lords report calls for a reimagining of UK high streets, emphasising the need to move beyond traditional retail to include more restaurants, leisure activities, and public services.
The decline of retail dominance on UK high streets has become increasingly evident, with over 10,000 store closures in 2023 alone. Communities have witnessed the loss of local department stores, pharmacies, clothing shops, pubs, and banks, leaving many town centres struggling to attract visitors.
According to the report titled “High Streets: Life Beyond Retail?” published by the cross-party House of Lords Built Environment Committee, there is a pressing need for high streets to offer a wider variety of services. This includes not only shopping but also dining, leisure activities, health centres, and libraries.
Lord Moylan, Chairman of the Built Environment Committee, stated: “Local high streets are places where generations have shopped, socialised, and worked. Many of them are in decline, and to reverse this they need to look beyond being simply a destination for shoppers.”
The report emphasises that local authorities, communities, and businesses must collaborate to create adaptable and resilient high streets that reflect local needs. A fixed, one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided in favour of flexible strategies that can evolve over time.
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