The Yorkshire high street isn't dying; it's levelling up: Jason Wan
The death of the high street in Yorkshire’s town and cities, like that of legendary American author Mark Twain, has been greatly exaggerated. While no-one can deny the high street faces numerous challenges, for a myriad of different reasons, it is misleading to suggest that they are finished.
If you look at the changing landscape of the city centres in, say, Leeds and York, it is easy to get caught up in the standard retail narrative. A report published this month by York Business Improvement District (BID), for example, revealed that city centre traders suffered an annual drop of more than eight per cent in terms of footfall and sales.
Of course, that is concerning, but it doesn’t consider the exciting plans to revive York’s beating retail heart, notably the comprehensive regeneration of Coney Street by the Helmsley Group.
So, let’s not get caught out in a doom loop. The real story of our high streets isn’t about decline, it is about evolution. High streets and urban centres are shifting from purely transactional spaces to rich, experimental locations. While traditional retail distribution has moved on-line, with devastating consequences for famous high street names such as WH Smith, Debenhams and, most recently, Claire’s Accessories, successful high streets are adapting by creating go-to destinations which are more vibrant, fun and inclusive than those on out-of-town retail and business parks.
Max Reeves, development director at the Helmsley Group, agrees and is proud that his company is turning this new dream into reality in Coney Street. Once the bustling heart of the city, Coney Street has suffered a major decline in recent years, with boarded-up shop fronts and charity shops replacing struggling retail outlets. Reflecting on the York BID figures, he commented: “These figures aren’t great, but overall York is such an attractive destination that there’s still massive interest in the city from all sorts of different retailers. A fresh approach is needed in Coney Street because the retail market has completely changed. People want to come and have experiences. York is a beautiful place and has a real attractiveness to it but we can’t rest on our laurels.”
Max is right. For example, one recent and very relevant trend is the explosive rise of experiential leisure and social entertainment hubs like Pixel Bar, NQ64 and Flight Club. These aren’t just businesses, they are vibrant community anchors that tap into a deep, nostalgic demand for connection, social interaction and authentic local identity. At DS.Emotion, we look at this data through a strategic lens. For developers such as the enterprising Helmsley Group, investors and local councils, this shift represents a massive opportunity to build long-term value, drive footfall and create thriving urban eco-systems.
Ultimately great destinations aren’t just built out of brick and mortar, they are co-created with the people who live and work there. When you align a development’s commercial goals with the authentic cultural heartbeat of its city, you create a sustainable destination that delivers lasting social and financial returns. That is how our high streets are going to survive.
Jason Wan is a researcher and place-making specialist at the award-winning marketing agency DS.Emotion in Leeds.