Leeds ‘leads way in battle to save the high street’, says Mary Portas

TOWNs and cities around the country should look to Leeds for inspiration on how to revive ailing high streets, according to a Government Minister.

John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, was in Leeds yesterday to coincide with the publication of Mary “Queen of Shops” Portas’s review of the future of British high streets.

In May, with town centre vacancy rates doubling in just two years, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister asked the retail guru to look into how more “prosperous and diverse” high streets.

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Ms Portas’ research led her to South Yorkshire, where she chatted with traders and shoppers in Rotherham to discuss issues including the impact of the Meadowhall shopping centre.

And, yesterday, she revealed her recommendations for what government, local authorities and businesses can do to help high streets recover.

Her suggestions included creating new “town teams” and developing the Business Improvement District model to “put town centres first”; removing red tape to make it easier for independent retailers to get started; encouraging affordable town centre car parking and introducing an annual national market day where budding entrepreneurs can try their hand at running a business.

She also said Barnsley, which she visited in September, was the “best market she had been to” because “you can put a table out for £10 and get started.”

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Barnsley Council leader Coun Steve Houghton, said yesterday that he was “delighted to get this national recognition from such a well respected retail expert”.

He added: “Mary Portas has said what many people in Barnsley have known for a long time, but I hope that this compliment will encourage more people to explore this area of retail.”

Ms Portas said: “I don’t want to live in a Britain that doesn’t care about community.

“And I believe that our high streets are a really important part of pulling people together in a way that a supermarket or shopping mall, however convenient, however entertaining and however slick, just never can.

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“Our high streets can be lively, dynamic, exciting and social places that give a sense of belonging and trust to a community. Something which, as the recent riots clearly demonstrated, has been eroded and in some instances eradicated. I hope that my recommendations can be a catalyst for change but high streets must be ready to experiment, try new things, take risks and become destinations again.

“Local authorities, landlords, retailers and the public need to work together to really animate the spaces they occupy; re-imagined as destinations for retail, socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning.”

During his visit to Leeds yesterday, Mr Hayes said: “Leeds is a charming city with a proud history and a very interesting shopping mix. What they seem to be getting right there is the public-private partnerships that they have in place. The city council is committed to developing Leeds in an interesting way and working with private companies to do that.

“I think other towns and cities need to learn more about what Leeds is doing right.”

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Ms Portas also advocated levelling the playing field by ensuring a “strong town centre-first approach in planning”, encouraging large retailers to show their support for high streets.

But Gerald Jennings, portfolio director for developer Land Securities which is behind both the White Rose Centre and the new Trinity Leeds development, said penalising out-of-town shopping centres “just won’t work.”

He added: “Certain towns and cities need to find a unique selling point and give the customer a reason to go there. Morley is currently working on this – what can be distinctive about Morley?

“It’s never going to compete with Leeds city centre, but people need to be given a reason to go to Morley as well.”

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David Cameron said he was “delighted” with the “clear vision” in the report, adding: “The Government will now review Mary’s recommendations and we will publish our response next spring.”

Comment: Page 12. Market’s spirit sells itself: Page 11.