Supporting our high streets after COVID-19

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 8 Jul 2020 Closed: 17 May 2022 Parliament page
The inquiry will examine the long-term consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak on the future of the high street. It is interested in how government, at all levels, can mitigate the economic and social impact and develop policies to ensure high streets remain the centre of local communities. The Committee will … Read more
34 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
17 May
2022
Correspondence
29 Mar
2022
Report published
29 Mar
2022
Correspondence
10 Dec
2021
Report published
20 Jul
2021
Correspondence
5 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
5 Jul
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
10 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
10 Jun
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
13 May
2021
Oral evidence
13 May
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
11 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
5 Jul 2021
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Oral evidence
Kate O'Neill · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Luke Hall · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Paul Scully · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
10 Jun 2021
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Oral evidence
Professor Carlos Moreno · Panthéon Sorbonne University, IAE Paris Professor Chan Heng Chee · Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities Professor Ricky Burdett · London School of Economics
13 May 2021
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Oral Evidence
Darren Pearce · Sheffield Meadowhall Lee Frankham · BT Group Nigel Connor · JD Wetherspoon Sir John Timpson CBE · Timpson Group
11 Jan 2021
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Oral evidence
Cllr Mark Crane · District Councils Network Martin McTague · Federation of Small Businesses Paul Swinney · Centre for Cities Ros Morgan · Heart of London Business Alliance Scott Corfe · Social Market Foundation
2 Nov 2020
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Oral evidence; Oral Evidence
Dominic Curran · British Retail Consortium Michael Wheeler · Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock · Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Professor Cathy Parker · Manchester Metropolitan University Robin Osterley · Charity Retail Association William Grimsey · Grimsey Review
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Supporting our high streets after COVID-19 HC 37 10 Dec 2021 40 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
40 results
1 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We commend the Government for acting decisively and quickly to implement a wide-ranging package that...
We commend the Government for acting decisively and quickly to implement a wide-ranging package that supported high street businesses during the covid-19 pandemic. We additionally commend the Government for taking steps to avoid a cliff- edge of support, both by … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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2 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government’s commitment in its hospitality strategy to learning lessons from the pandemic for the...
The Government’s commitment in its hospitality strategy to learning lessons from the pandemic for the hospitality sector is a welcome start, but it should do so for high streets and town centres in the round. Learning lessons will not only … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee on the importance of learning lessons from the impact of the handling of the pandemic, and is committed to doing so. Throughout the pandemic, … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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3 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We recommend that the Government conduct a full lessons learned review that specifically examines the...
We recommend that the Government conduct a full lessons learned review that specifically examines the impact of the handling of the pandemic at central and local government level on the short- and long-term health of high streets and town centres. … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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4 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
While we consider that an immediate lessons learned review is needed, we recognise that the...
While we consider that an immediate lessons learned review is needed, we recognise that the pandemic is not over. The Government should continue to monitor the impact of the full range of covid-19 business support that affects the high street … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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5 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
It remains the case that resilient, thriving high streets and town centres of the future...
It remains the case that resilient, thriving high streets and town centres of the future will be planned in the round in collaboration with local authorities, the business 68 Supporting our high streets after COVID-19 community (including Business Improvement Districts), … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
In line with our predecessor Committee’s recommendations and our report on the planning system in...
In line with our predecessor Committee’s recommendations and our report on the planning system in England, Local Plans and strategies for high streets and town centres must be updated regularly in order to keep pace with changing trends. This will … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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7 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the £65 million for the planning regime announced in the Spending Review towards...
We welcome the £65 million for the planning regime announced in the Spending Review towards a new digital system, though more detail is needed on what this new system will entail. Additionally, this announcement falls significantly short of our previous … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
As our predecessor Committee recommended, retailers must adapt to changing consumer habits in order to...
As our predecessor Committee recommended, retailers must adapt to changing consumer habits in order to thrive. Retailers should especially consider how to embrace online as part of their business model, not only as a channel through which to sell products, … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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9 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We recommend that place partnerships and, where possible, businesses, should continually review whether store opening...
We recommend that place partnerships and, where possible, businesses, should continually review whether store opening hours are meeting people’s needs and generating maximum custom as consumers settle into life after the pandemic. We recommend that places that cannot invest in … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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10 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The future of the high street will depend in part on where people work.
The future of the high street will depend in part on where people work. It is therefore disappointing that the Government’s impact assessment of its consultation on Supporting our high streets after COVID-19 69 making flexible working the default does … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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11 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
With hybrid working likely to become more common, co-working spaces may offer an opportunity to...
With hybrid working likely to become more common, co-working spaces may offer an opportunity to attract footfall to smaller high streets and town centres. The Government should consider how co-working office spaces can be taxed fairly so as to stimulate … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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12 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We are disappointed that the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy does not mention markets...
We are disappointed that the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy does not mention markets and does not introduce any new initiatives for heritage. The Government should consider what further steps it can take to support markets and local heritage … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government’s commitment in its Build Back Better High Streets strategy to work with stakeholders...
The Government’s commitment in its Build Back Better High Streets strategy to work with stakeholders on how property owners and community groups can be better engaged with Business Improvement Districts is welcome, albeit vague. This work should include consideration of … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue.
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue. The Government must publish further detail on proposed reforms to the Compulsory Purchase Order process without delay, along with timescales for reform. It should set … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government’s current approach to funding town centre regeneration—in line with its approach to allocating...
The Government’s current approach to funding town centre regeneration—in line with its approach to allocating funding to local government generally—is too complex, short-term, and fragmented. Ultimately this funding approach may hamper rather than facilitate the Government’s ambitions to build back … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government should keep to its commitment that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will at...
The Government should keep to its commitment that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will at least match receipts from EU structural funds. It should ensure that areas that would have been classed as objective 1 areas had the UK remained … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We urge the Government to publish measurable outcomes frameworks for each of the Towns Fund,...
We urge the Government to publish measurable outcomes frameworks for each of the Towns Fund, Levelling Up Fund, Community Ownership Fund, UK Community Renewal Fund, and UK Shared Prosperity Fund. These frameworks should set out how the funds achieve the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
It is important for the Government not just to evaluate the success of the individual...
It is important for the Government not just to evaluate the success of the individual funds, but also to have a clear framework for how the different funds will work together to achieve high street and town centre regeneration at … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
For each competitive fund available for high streets, the Government should publish the full list...
For each competitive fund available for high streets, the Government should publish the full list of local authorities whose bids were unsuccessful in each round. For future rounds of bidding for these funds, the Government should consider requiring local authorities … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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20 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government should clarify whether any further funds will be available from the Towns Fund...
The Government should clarify whether any further funds will be available from the Towns Fund for competitive bidding, as was originally intended, or whether the Government’s position is now that authorities who wish to compete for funding for Town Deals … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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21 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
The Government should explain why such a high proportion of applications to the Community Ownership...
The Government should explain why such a high proportion of applications to the Community Ownership Fund were disqualified. For future rounds, the Government should ensure that the eligibility requirements are clear and well understood. The Government should also set out … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
It is clear that the High Streets Task Force is highly prized and should be...
It is clear that the High Streets Task Force is highly prized and should be commended for its excellent work in its first two years of existence, in particularly difficult circumstances. While the focus of the High Streets Task Force … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We are concerned by the Government’s confirmation that change of use from office to retail...
We are concerned by the Government’s confirmation that change of use from office to retail no longer requires a sequential test to protect main town centre uses, and we welcome the Secretary of State’s recent commitment to us to look … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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24 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We also reiterate our recommendation that the Government amend the prior approval process for the...
We also reiterate our recommendation that the Government amend the prior approval process for the class MA right so that councils, in deciding whether to approve development, can consider the impact of a loss of ground-floor commercial, business and service … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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25 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
Housing has a valuable role to play in mixed-use high streets, but we are not...
Housing has a valuable role to play in mixed-use high streets, but we are not convinced that extending permitted development rights from Use Class E to residential is the right way to address either the housing shortage or the regeneration … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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26 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome many of the Government’s reforms to business rates, in particular the more frequent...
We welcome many of the Government’s reforms to business rates, in particular the more frequent revaluations and the 12-month holiday from increases arising from investing in improvements. But we are concerned that they do not amount to long-term or fundamental … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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27 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the fact that the Government intends to compensate local authorities for its temporary...
We welcome the fact that the Government intends to compensate local authorities for its temporary business rates measures, though more detail on how it intends to do so is needed. The Government should set out how it intends to compensate … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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28 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the consultation on transitional relief, and recognise that more frequent revaluations will go...
We welcome the consultation on transitional relief, and recognise that more frequent revaluations will go some way to helping businesses pay the correct level of business rates for their properties’ rateable values. The Government’s consultation should consider how businesses in … Read more
Government Response
The Government is aware of stakeholder concerns that downwards transitional relief arrangements have often prevented bills from accurately reflecting actual property values. In 2023, the Government will implement a new … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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29 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We support the principle of an online sales tax and welcome the consultation.
We support the principle of an online sales tax and welcome the consultation. We particularly welcome that revenue from an online sales tax would be used to reduce business rates for retailers. The Government should provide clear timescales for the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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30 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
Building on its fundamental review of business rates, the Government should conduct a full review...
Building on its fundamental review of business rates, the Government should conduct a full review of taxes on high street businesses to ensure that they are fair, fit for purpose in a digital era, and generate economic, environmental, and social … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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31 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of covid-19 related...
We welcome the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of covid-19 related commercial rent arrears. Alongside the legislation that the Government has introduced, explicit guidance will be required to define exactly what is meant by ringfencing arrears … Read more
Government Response
On 9 November 2021, alongside introduction of the Commercial Rents (Coronavirus) Bill, Government published a new Commercial Rents Code of Practice (https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/commercial-rents-code-of-practice-november-2021). The Code aligns with this legislation and … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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32 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We are concerned that the Government’s Build Back Better High Streets strategy does not mention...
We are concerned that the Government’s Build Back Better High Streets strategy does not mention Company Voluntary Arrangements. We recommend that the Government consults stakeholders to determine whether a review of Company Voluntary Arrangements is needed. (Paragraph 138) Supporting our … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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33 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome the Government’s decision to review the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Part II,...
We welcome the Government’s decision to review the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Part II, as recommended by our predecessor Committee. The Government should consider, whether separately or as part of the review, how to make commercial property ownership more … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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34 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We are concerned that the Government lacks a joined-up approach for generating jobs on the...
We are concerned that the Government lacks a joined-up approach for generating jobs on the high street and ensuring that those working on the high street have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills. The Government should set out its targets … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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35 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
While we recognise that some provision of parking to access high streets and town centres...
While we recognise that some provision of parking to access high streets and town centres is necessary for accessibility reasons, strategies for high streets should seek to minimise car use and increase public transport and active travel. The Government should … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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36 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome significant government funding for public transport, though we urge the Government to clarify...
We welcome significant government funding for public transport, though we urge the Government to clarify how much of its £3 billion for buses is for covid-19 recovery and how much is for investing in improvements. The Government should embed the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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37 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
We welcome government funding for active travel and reiterate our recommendation from our report on...
We welcome government funding for active travel and reiterate our recommendation from our report on local government and the path to net zero that the Government should put funding for active travel on a consistent footing as opposed to a … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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38 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
To maximise the number of people accessing high streets by foot, bicycle, or public transport,...
To maximise the number of people accessing high streets by foot, bicycle, or public transport, the Government should ensure that the revised Manual for Streets includes clear guidance on how to make walking, cycling, and public transport accessible to people … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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39 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
Local authorities should monitor the social, environmental, and economic impacts of any changes to walking,...
Local authorities should monitor the social, environmental, and economic impacts of any changes to walking, cycling, and public transport infrastructure on high streets.
Government Response
The Department for Transport requires the impacts of schemes to be monitored as a condition of grant funding for infrastructure schemes. The Department is undertaking a national evaluation of the … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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40 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Supporting our high…
It is disappointing that consideration of freight solutions for the high street is missing from...
It is disappointing that consideration of freight solutions for the high street is missing from the Government’s Build Back Better High Streets strategy. Consideration of freight solutions should include how the use of more environmentally friendly freight solutions may be … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees that consideration of freight flows in and out of the high street and management of congestion is critical to its future success and environmentally friendly solutions should … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Correspondence 4 letters
17 May 2022 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution to the Chair dated 12 May 2022 concerning supporting high streets after COVID-19
Parliament page
29 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution dated 29 March 2022 concerning the Government's response to the Committee's report on Supporting our High Streets after Covid-19
Parliament page
20 Jul 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets to the Chair dated 14 July 2021 concerning their appearance before the Committee on 5 July
Parliament page
8 Sep 2020 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing to the Chair dated 23 July 2020 concerning Covid recovery and supporting high streets
Parliament page