The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee
has launched a new inquiry looking at the future of England’s high
streets and town centres in 2030. The inquiry will examine
the future role of the high street in contributing to the local
economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local
community and the challenges faced amid changing demographic,
technological and other trends in recent decades.
It will also look at how local areas are planning for the future
of their high streets and town centres and creating the
conditions to sustain them in the years ahead, as well as whether
councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other
tools needed to help local areas flourish.
MP, Chair of the Housing,
Communities and Local Government Committee said:
“Our high streets and town centres have an important social,
civic and cultural place in our society. But, many of our high
streets are now struggling, facing a range of challenges
including the threat posed by online retailers. Indeed, changing
trends and behaviours in recent decades – driven by a range of
economic, demographic, social and technological factors – have
affected the prosperity and vibrancy of our high streets.
“High streets and town centres retain an important place in
our society but what do we want them to look like in 2030 and
what actions do we need from local and central government to
ensure their longevity?”
Alongside the call for evidence, the Committee welcomes the views
of the public on why their high-street matters and what they
think could be improved about it. The public can tweet their
views and pictures on #myhighstreetmatters to @CommonsHCLG
The HCLG Committee’s inquiry is a likely to examine the legacy of
the Government’s previous work on the high street, including the
Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and the Great
British High Street.
Terms of reference - High streets and town centres in
2030 inquiry
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
is inviting submissions on what high streets and town centres
will look like in 2030.
In considering this question, submitters may wish to address:
• The
role of high streets and town centres in contributing to the
local economy and the health, wellbeing, cohesion and cultural
life of the local community;
• The
economic, demographic, social and technological challenges facing
high streets and town centres and how they are likely to develop
over the next ten years;
• How
high streets and town centres are adapting to meet these
challenges, the conditions necessary for sustainability, for
example, residential development and related infrastructure, and
how local areas are planning for the future;
• The
outlook for high streets and town centres that cannot rely on
consumer spending and business growth and investment;
• Whether
councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other
tools needed to help local areas flourish and how they make use
of these;
• The
legacy of the Government’s previous work on the high street,
including the Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and
the Great British High Street.
The closing date for evidence submissions is 22 June. Submissions
can be made on the Committee’s website
here.
