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
39 Recommendations
1 Conclusion
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 11 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
10 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
13 May
2021
Oral evidence
11 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
2 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
8 Sep
2020
Correspondence
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
8 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of learning lessons, states it has continually monitored economic impacts, and highlights an external evaluation commissioned by BEIS on the effectiveness of the Business Support Grant programme. However, it does not commit to the full, separate lessons learned review covering all specified aspects of the pandemic's impact on high streets, such as fraud/error or public health measure support.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's request and states that further information regarding the Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies for the Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund has recently been published, partially addressing the recommendation for outcome frameworks across all listed funds.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government already publishes details of successful bids and requires Levelling Up Fund applicants to provide bid development costs, partially addressing the recommendation. They did not commit to publishing unsuccessful bids or undertaking a broad cost-benefit analysis of the bidding process.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government justified the 50% capital funding requirement but did not commit to removing it. They are reviewing the prospectus to clarify eligibility criteria for future rounds and have commissioned an external evaluation of the fund to capture lessons learned.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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32 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government has tendered for research to determine if commercial landlords are unfairly treated in Company Voluntary Arrangements, the findings of which will inform if a further review is needed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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33 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government has accepted in part by committing to establish a new beneficial ownership register of overseas entities that own UK property under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. The broader review of landlord and tenant legislation, which may consider wider property ownership transparency, is deferred.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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34 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government committed to devolving adult education functions and the associated core AEB to new areas, building on the 60% already devolved, but did not set out specific targets for high street employment.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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36 Recommendation Accepted in Part
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
Government Response
The government provided overall bus funding figures and committed to publishing new guidance for Local Transport Plans, but did not fully clarify the precise split of £3 billion for COVID-19 recovery versus improvements or explicitly confirm all requested high street accessibility criteria in funding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 40 of 39 classified
Accepted 15
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 5
Rejected 2
Total 39 recs + 1 conclusion
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