News

Grimsey: Recognition is great but proof will be in the funding

News

Bill Grimsey

31 October 2018

Retail

More than anything, it’s a big vote of confidence in high streets and town centres. Ministers have woken up to the urgency of the problem and realised that as long as high streets are chained to an outdated model there’s little hope of them surviving. We desperately need to see change and the chancellor has shown he gets it. What’s more, if government throws its weight behind achieving change we can start building a new model to strengthen the social fabric of communities and give struggling town centres a new sense of purpose and identity.

I won’t get carried away just yet, though: the devil will be in the detail.

If this money is spent wisely and strategically this will make a big difference, but without strong local leadership and accountability there’s always the risk of it being used for pointless vanity projects.

Business rates relief is welcome, but this needs to be easy to access for retailers and today’s announcement cannot ignore the fact that business rates are an outdated tax that needs to be reformed. And while it’s easy to kick the can down the road, reform cannot be put off forever. Ministers will have to grasp the nettle eventually.

But it’s not just down to ministers. The Future High Streets Fund will deliver real change only if it is backed by strong local leadership, accountability and local communities.

If this money is spent wisely and strategically this will make a big difference, but without strong local leadership and accountability there’s always the risk of it being used for pointless vanity projects.

We have seen this in the past. Funding has to be used to support long-term plans for change that have community buy-in. It’s more important than ever that money should not be wasted tinkering around at the edges.

Budget 2018

Budget 2018: At last the government is recognising it needs to help town centres evolve to a 21st-century model. Cutting business rates by a third for smaller shops, pubs and cafés – and creating a £675m Future High Streets Fund to transform high streets – is potentially a watershed moment. More than anything, it’s a big vote of confidence in high streets and town centres. Ministers have woken up to the urgency of the problem and realised that as long as high streets are chained to an outdated model there’s little hope of them surviving. We desperately need to see change and the chancellor has shown he gets it. What’s more, if government throws its weight behind achieving change we can start building a new model to strengthen the social fabric of communities and give struggling town centres a new sense of purpose and identity. I won’t get carried away just yet, though: the devil will be in the detail. If this money is spent wisely and strategically this will make a big difference, but without strong local leadership and accountability there’s always the risk of it being used for pointless vanity projects. Business rates relief is welcome, but this needs to be easy to access for retailers and today’s announcement cannot ignore the fact that business rates are an outdated tax that needs to be reformed. And while it’s easy to kick the can down the road, reform cannot be put off forever. Ministers will have to grasp the nettle eventually. But it’s not just down to ministers. The Future High Streets Fund will deliver real change only if it is backed by strong local leadership, accountability and local communities. If this money is spent wisely and strategically this will make a big difference, but without strong local leadership and accountability there’s always the risk of it being used for pointless vanity projects. We have seen this in the past. Funding has to be used to support long-term plans for change that have community buy-in. It’s more important than ever that money should not be wasted tinkering around at the edges.