Portas high street plan welcomed

BUSINESS groups and expert advisers in the region have given a thumbs-up to retail guru Mary Portas’ report on how to revive the high street.

The review makes recommendations on what should be done to revitalise traditional town centre high streets.

She says there should be a focus on developing social hubs for shopping, learning, socialising and having fun.

The recommendations aim to get town centres running like businesses by strengthening the management of high streets through new ‘Town Teams’, developing the Business Improvement District model and encouraging new markets.

There is also a focus on getting the basics right by looking at how the business rate system could better support small businesses and independent retailers, encouraging affordable town centre car parking and looking at further opportunities to remove red tape on the high street.

The Federation of Small Businesses in the region said the review “offers hope” to the North West’s “ailing high streets”.

Richard Gregg,  the FSB’s regional chairman and local town centre businessman, said: “It is vital that the Government and councils take note of these recommendations.”

He addedL”It looks like, through this review, Mary Portas has really understood that challenge, and has put forward measures that should ensure the long-term sustainability of our high streets.”

Christine Hewson, head of retail for KPMG in the North West said: “Ms Portas rightly recognises that the challenges our high streets face are complex, diverse and involve many different stakeholders.

“Her review also recognises the structural changes to our retail landscape such as the popularity of out of town shopping and the growth in online retailers. These changes are here to stay and any revival of our high streets must therefore involve the reallocation of retail space towards other uses such as social housing and leisure.

“Fostering innovation for small businesses will also be critical. The focus on easier planning policy incentives, affordable rents, and reduced business rates are important steps in the right direction and they are more likely to be successful than government-led ‘strategic planning’.”

Maresa Molloy, head of policy at the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce added: “Here in Liverpool the high street provides important services, jobs and economic vitality for many areas across the city.

“If our retail businesses are able to expand and develop their premises more easily, and attract more customers, then they can only help the city to flourish, and in turn contribute to the recovery.

“The immediate concern of the Chamber is the damage the 5.6% increase in rates planned for April is likely to have on the retail sector. Business rates are a significant barrier for many businesses, and could damage a high street already squeezed by a fall in consumer spending.”

Dr Neil Bentley, deputy director-general, said the review made some “sensible suggestions”, particularly around the use of BIDs, planning rules, and business rates.

He added: ““We need to make sure the UK remains attractive to investors, as it’s their decisions that will ultimately lead to regeneration of our town centres.

“Any changes to the planning and business rate regimes must therefore encourage investment in the broadest sense, and not just rob Peter to pay Paul.”