MARY PORTAS REPORT
Breathing new life into the high street
Following her appointment by Government to lead a Review of Britain's high streets, there has been a blaze of publicity surrounding Mary Portas and the changing face of UK retail. Becci Knowles reports on what's got everyone talking...
I
n May last year, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed retail expert and TV personality Mary Portas to lead an independent review into the future of our high streets. The long awaited
review was published in January and media commentators were quick to respond to the report’s findings - some questioned the Government’s motives in appointing a celebrity to lead such a project, while others looked in detail at the findings and found many of them to be contradictory. There is, however, also a huge amount of support for Portas’ vision for regeneration.
In the foreword to the Review, Mary said: “I want
to put the heart back into the centre of our High Streets, re-imagined as destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning. Places that will develop and sustain new and existing markets and businesses. The new High Streets won’t just be about selling goods.”
While in a difficult economic climate - where
shops stand empty and even long established names have ceased trading, it might be difficult to see this as any more than an ideal - a positive, pro-active response to regeneration is vital. Yes, our high streets have suffered from the increasing number of out of town shopping centres, the rise of the internet, increasing rents, rates, the credit crunch and recession…. but rather than believe everything we read about the
‘death’ of the high street, should we not instead focus on a retail experience that can’t be matched elsewhere?
Maria Leese of successful store Doris & Daisy
agrees and is taking both the Review and the Government's response to it, with a pinch of salt: "The problem is, there are so many people looking after their own interests. Everything depends on how good your LA is. We would love our town
“I want to put the heart back
into the centre of our High Streets, re-imagined as destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning.”
centre to have free parking, but of course the LA is not going to do that because they need the revenue. The business rates we pay are phenomenal and yet we can't even put out our cardboard out to be collected. That money goes to central government. So, it's all just passing the buck. We need some leadersip, for somebody to say, this is how it will be for the whole country. I do think they need to do something about the rates though, they are eyewatering! If farmers can be subsidised then I think local retailers should be subsidised too."
In its response, the Government announced
more Portas Pilots (including Town Teams tasked with bringing the high street back to life); a 500,000 investment to help Business Improvement Districts access loans for their set- up costs; a High Street Innovation Fund; and a £1m Future High Street X-Fund – to reward the areas delivering the most effective and innovative plans.
In terms of rates, Rt. Hon Grant Shapps MP,
Minister for Housing and Local Government promised to double the level of small business rate relief in England for two and a half years. He said: "We have made it easier for businesses to access the small business rate relief by removing the legal requirement for them to submit an application form; given them the option to spread the Retail Price Index increase on their rates bill over three years; and, through the Localism Act
The Government's response In the foreword to 'High streets at the heart of
our communities: The Government's response to the Mary Portas Review' published in March, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Mary’s review made the challenge crystal clear. Internet shopping and out-of- town shopping centres are not going to go away – they offer the convenience and choice that customers welcome. So for our high streets to thrive they must offer something new and different."
44 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • SEP 2011
MAYTEMBER 2012
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