 In a bid to protect the British high street, the government has appointed retail guru Mary Portas to lead an independent review into its future. The research must identify what government, local authorities and businesses can do to make high streets
more prosperous and diverse in a long term scenario.
 Portas will look to address a number of key issues including the problem of vacant shops, preventing the proliferation of ‘clone towns’, creating new business models to fit the needs of the modern shopper, and increasing the number of small and independent shops in local town centres.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The High Street should be at the very heart of every community, bringing people together, providing essential services and creating jobs and investment; so it is vital that we do all that we can to ensure they thrive.”
He continued: "That is why I am delighted that Mary Portas has agreed to take on this review and I am confident that her straight talking, no nonsense approach will help us to create vibrant and diverse town centres and bring back the bustle to
our high streets."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Empty High Streets are a blight on the local economy. Vacant shops are also a wasted opportunity with far reaching consequences. When goods and services start to disappear our sense of community can be weakened and undermined. It is vital therefore that we examine what steps can be taken to revitalise and reinvigorate high street shopping centres across the country.”
Commenting on the announcement, The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the review would be a positive move if it resulted in more support for all retailers and the town centres in which they do business. However, it said the emphasis needed to be on support-for-all rather than penalising success and that there should be no attempt to restrict consumer choice.
Mary Portas said: “With town centre vacancy rates doubling over the last two years the need to take action to save our high streets has never been starker. I am calling on businesses, local authorities and shoppers to contribute their ideas on how we can halt this decline in its tracks and create town centres that we can all be proud of.”
Image: Mary Portas
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