Press Release
Business seeks diverse mix of high street shops
9 June 2009
Business group London First has established a Retail Commission, to consider how to encourage retail diversity on London's High Streets. The Commission will study measures that the Government, Mayor, Boroughs and business can take in the short, medium and long term. Conclusions and recommendations will seek to inform Mayoral policy (including the London Plan) and assist boroughs in developing policy and initiatives to strengthen suburban centres.
Chair of the London First Retail Commission is Grosvenor's Jeremy Newsum. He said:
"The challenges facing London's retail centres are manifold and complex: all are suffering from the recession and reduced consumer expenditure, and face increased competition from growing use of the internet. As well as responding to the effects of recession, action is needed to ensure the long term health and vitality of London's retail centres."
London has a rich network of over 1,000 town centres; ranging from the West End, an international retail centre and the largest national centre, home of international brands and flagship stores; to local high streets which play a vital role to communities throughout London. More than 400,000 people work in retail in London in over 40,000 shops. Retail is important to London's economy and communities: large multiple retailers and London's many independent shops.
The West End faces increasing competition from major new shopping centres across the capital: Westfield White City opened in October 2008 and Stratford will be open in 2010. Local shops face increasing competition from supermarkets and centres which offer free and convenient parking. There is growing concern about "clone town" Britain (homogenous high streets) and the impact of new shopping centres on existing high streets. This will be exacerbated by the recession with many smaller retailers being vulnerable and unable to compete.
Jeremy Newsum added:
"The need to support and encourage a diverse retail sector is a pan-London issue: from the West End to the outer London boroughs. "Planning for a Better London" includes a Mayoral objective to encourage a dynamic and diverse retail sector. One proposed solution, adopted by some Boroughs, is to use the planning system to secure small and affordable retail units. Not only is this difficult financially, legally and for management, it does not address the many challenges facing the high street.
"The Commission will examine the issues thoroughly with a view to offering alternative approaches to addressing this worthwhile aim."
The other members of the Retail Commission include:
Simon Quin ATCM
John Wakes BDP
Jane Milne British Retail Consortium
Ian Anderson CB Richard Ellis
Andrew Barry–Pursell GLA
Chris Goddard GVA Grimley
Simon Baynham Howard de Walden Estates
Jeremy Collins John Lewis Partnership
Guy Grainger Jones Lang LaSalle
Mark Higgin Montagu Evans
George Nicholson National Retail Planning Forum
Chris Taylor Queensland Investment Group
Simon Quayle Shaftesbury
For business enquiries regarding the Retail Commission, contact Kate Vandermeer at London First on kvandermeer@londonfirst.co.uk.
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