London Retail Commission
Reinvigorating the High Street: Encouraging retail diversity and supporting town centres in London
Background
The challenges facing London’s retail centres are manifold and complex: all are suffering from the recession and reduced consumer expenditure, and face increased competition from growing use of the internet. Action is needed to ensure the long term health and vitality of London’s town centres.
London First Retail Commission
In response to these challenges London First established a retail commission during 2009, chaired by Grosvenor’s Jeremy Newsum, which concluded that, rather than seeking to help particular types of retailers, it is critical to address the many challenges facing London’s town centres and high streets.
Policies, such as proposed in the Draft Replacement London Plan, to secure affordable shop units through s106 will fail the vast majority of high streets. Far more effective is to take a proactive and positive approach to managing the high street, improving the public realm and accessibility, establishing effective marketing and ensuring the right mix of uses, including housing.
Our recommendations seek to inform Mayoral policy (including the London Plan), as well as central Government, boroughs and business.
For more information, please contact Kate Vandermeer on 020 7665 1457
LONDON FIRST RETAIL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS - summary:
Understand
• Define your centre
• Develop an evidence base
• Reform approaches to vitality
• Prioritise stress areas
Manage
• Include town centres in economic development role
• Support BIDs / Town Centre Partnerships
• Endorse and adequately resource Town Centre Managers
• Create a safe and secure environment
• Provide small business support
• Integrate markets
• Provide incubation support for new businesses
Plan for the long term
• Promote mix of retail, leisure, housing, office and civic functions
• Improve environment and public realm
• Develop a co-ordinated approach to transport management
• Release non-core retail
• Manage LA ownership for long term sustainability
Market
• Accessible information for the local community
• Encourage promotional events
• Consider implementing loyalty schemes
• Produce London Retail Directory
