News

2010-11-03 : Are High Streets to Become a Thing of the Past?

Almost 90 per cent of planning permission for new shop space last year went to the big four supermarkets. As many of these developments are either on the edge or out of town with their own parking, shoppers are being enticed away from independent shops and the high street.

According to research published by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), more than 12,000 independent shops closed down last year, resulting in one in seven empty shops in high streets across the country. Some areas have tried to avoid the derelict appearance by placing posters in shop fronts, giving the impression they are still in use. BID Schemes (Business Improvement Development) where businesses pay extra business rates into a ‘pot' to benefit and improve the local area are also on the rise.

The ACS is keen to work with the Government to protect the future of the high street as the current levels of decline cannot be ignored. A recent study has warned about the rise of ‘clone towns' where high streets are devoid of character as they are dominated by identical national chains; four in ten of the nation's high streets are now clone towns.

Speaking for the major chains, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said putting barriers up against supermarkets is not the solution, pointing out that rising business rate costs, increased rents and parking charges are also playing their part in the high street trouble. These issues should be tackled first before preventing other forms of retailing.

The BRC would like the Government and local authorities to help the high streets by providing a package of measures which include ensuring property and business rates are affordable, rewarding people for using public transport rather than penalising them for using cars and reinstating empty property rate relief.

The Government's ‘Healthy High Street?' guide, published early November with the help of business organisations and high street traders, is welcomed by the BRC. The guide includes many tips, such as whether there are good parking facilities and looks at the variety of shops on offer. The guide also shows how to draw up an action plan fir any changes that are needed to improve the area.

Business Rates should be reviewed every year to ensure the correct amount is being charged and to re coup any possible overpayment as soon as possible. Contact Ruddle Merz for a free Business Rate Review on 0800 883 0353 or email enquiries@ruddlemerz.co.uk.