The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry looking at the action needed to revitalise the nation’s high streets.
The cross-party inquiry will examine the proliferation of “unwanted” retail and services – such as new betting shops, vape shops and fake barbers – and the impact they have on high streets and community pride.
MPs will examine the different approaches to high street regeneration, such as design codes, street furniture, and pedestrianisation, and explore the effectiveness of local council powers, such as High Street Rental Auctions, Compulsory Purchase Orders and the Community Right to Buy.
Image: Bromsgrove District Council
The inquiry will assess the impact of recent changes to business rates on high streets and consider proposals for future changes to support high street businesses.
As part of this inquiry, MPs may also examine the accessibility of high streets for disabled people, older people and families with children, and the role accessibility should play in future regeneration improvements.
MPs will also tackle the question of whether local authorities’ Trading Standards departments are sufficiently funded and resourced to improve problem high streets alongside the new High Streets Organised Crime Unit.
The inquiry will scrutinise the government’s measures to support the high street. The government has announced investments of up to £5.8 billion over 10 years through the Pride in Place Programme, which is stated to provide up to £20m to hundreds of areas over the next decade.
Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: "People across the country are worried about the decline of their high streets. The ongoing impact of internet shopping and a range of increased cost pressures in recent times have hit many high street businesses hard.
“The growing clustering of ‘unwanted’ businesses such as vape shops and betting shops can be linked to the hollowing out of many of our high streets, making it even harder to attract investment and footfall to our town centres. But this isn’t the picture everywhere. Many places in England are successful in supporting independent businesses and making high streets places which residents can be proud of.
“In our inquiry, we want to look at government support for high streets and how effective Pride in Place funding will be in directing funding to those communities who need it most. We also want to explore the approaches which have been successful in boosting the economic and social life of our high streets and what conditions are needed to bring life back to high streets across England”.
The HCLG Committee’s inquiry will also consider the government’s upcoming High Streets Strategy and any forthcoming government plans for high street regeneration.
