smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the government to act quickly on the findings of Mary Portas’ review of the high street.

FSB national chairman John Walker says, ‘The review is hugely important in shaping the character of our high streets and town centres and so our local communities. It is vital that the government and councils take note of these recommendations. If no action is taken, the [shift towards out of town retail development] is set to continue.'

Portas’ review makes recommendations on what can be done by the government, local authorities and businesses to help high streets deliver something new.

It focuses on ‘putting the heart back into the centre of our high streets’, re-imagined as ‘exciting social hubs for shopping, learning, socialising and having fun’.

The FSB is pleased to see the focus on planning, parking and business rates in Portas' findings, identifying these areas as ‘where real change can be achieved’. Removing regulations to make it easier for people to trade in the high street are also useful, adds the organisation.

The lobbying group agrees with Portas that the lack of affordable town centre parking is driving trade away from the high street to out of town retail sites.

Walker says, ‘We have to think carefully at how we address this. Putting in place free controlled parking schemes and introducing a parking league table could go some way in doing this. But it will only work if the wider reforms in the Portas Review help to ensure the variety and choice on the high street that consumers want.’

The chairman also welcomes the calls to review the way in which the business rates system can better support small businesses, and to encourage councils to offer targeted interventions to attract and retain small retailers that add diversity to local high streets.

He concludes, ‘We need councils to do some long term thinking about the benefits of creating resilient and sustainable high streets and town centres in their local communities. Help in the short term can reap benefits further down the line.’

There are currently no comments on this article