
The report, written by retail veteran Bill Grimsey and a group of industry experts, sets out a 31-point action plan.
Recommendations include:
• Accept that there is already too much retail space in the UK and that bricks and mortar retailing can no longer be the anchor to create thriving high streets and town centres.
• Set an objective to repopulate high streets and town centres as community hubs encompassing more housing, education, arts, entertainment, business/office space, health and leisure, and some shops.
• Establish a Town Centre Commission for each town with a defined skill base and structure to build a 20-year vision for each town supported by a broad business plan in five-year chunks.
• Require local authorities to hold a public meeting annually to present the 20-year vision, town centre plans and progress made in the year, supported by an annual progress report.
• Reintroduce immediately the 2015 business rates revaluation to realign property values and freeze business rates from 2014.
• Make it compulsory for national retail and leisure chains to invest 0.25 per cent of one year’s sales into a local economic development fund to sponsor local start-up businesses in a similar way to the Prince’s Trust. This would be a one-off levy.
• Make it easier for motorists to shop by building in a two-hour free high street and town centre car parking system to the overall business plan for
the location.
• Make it compulsory for all ‘mega mall’ developments to create a percentage of affordable space within the development for local traders and market stall pitches.
• Create a full-time high streets minister to replace the current part-time position that is tagged on to the duties of the housing minister.
You can read the full report here: http://www.vanishinghighstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GrimseyReview04.092.pdf