The Portas Review recommendations published in December focused on measures to try to create a more level playing field and to improve relationships between retailers. But in practical terms, they said little on what can be done to differentiate our town centres and create a different shopping experience.
Perhaps this is where the approach of the Treasury has struck a good balance with the suspension of the Sunday trading restrictions for the duration of the Olympic Games.
Why not let all shops in our town centres trade longer than those based in out-of-centre locations? A simple legislative change could allow town centres to develop a small but distinctive retail niche.
Let’s be realistic. Out-of-centre shopping is not going to go away, and internet sales are only going to grow. So we need to create a different retail proposition for our town centres to these competing channels.
The Sunday trading law, which dates back to the Sunday Trading Act 1994, prevents shops with a sales area in excess of 3,015 sq ft from trading for more than a six-hour period on a Sunday, and applies equally to shops in and outside town centres.
A simple legislative change would enable town centres to develop a longer and more relaxed Sunday shopping experience. Bustling town centres would also be of interest to large food stores, helping to shift food shopping back into town centres.
Adam Pyrke, head of London planning, Colliers International
