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
5 results
Clear
11 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government agrees it is important to consider the impacts of flexible working on high streets and refers to flexible working regulations and a consultation on amending the existing framework, but does not address the specific recommendation on the taxation of co-working spaces.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government response discusses existing planning considerations related to flood risk, noise, transport, and conservation areas, along with high street vacancy rates, but does not address the recommendation to publish further details and timescales on Compulsory Purchase Order process reforms.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government thanks the High Streets Task Force and other organisations for their work, but does not address the recommendation to review the Task Force's size, remit, and budget with a view to increasing it.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation to amend the use class regime for office-to-retail conversions, instead noting a decline in high street vacancy rates.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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30 Recommendation Not Addressed
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
Government Response
The government did not commit to a new, full review of taxes on high street businesses, instead highlighting its completed business rates review and ongoing support through the Towns Fund.
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