Retail expert Mary Portas has set out a plan for saving high streets after a Government report found a third are failing.
The Government’s ‘Understanding High Street Performance’ report found that high streets will take less than 40% of retail spend by 2014.
Portas claims urgent measures are needed to revitalise the high streets and shopping centres.
These include relaxing planning laws, removing unnecessary legislation and offering business rate concessions to new local businesses.
She also suggests improving parking and running high profile campaigns to get everyone involved in neighbourhood plans.
Portas said that high street shops had been replaced by out of town shopping centres leaving residents with no sense of belonging to their town.
She added: “ I fundamentally believe that once we invest in and create social capital in the heart of our communities, the economic capital will follow.
“Those who see high streets purely in commercial terms need a reality check, because, without the engagement and collaboration of local people many high streets will die and retailers, landlords and local authorities alike will see their investment wasted.”
By Diane Evans
