In response to a recent report on the decline of British town centres, readers have put forward a range of proposals to bring life back to high streets, from a levy on home deliveries to community-led loyalty schemes and the conversion of vacant shops into housing.
The discussion follows Sammy Gecsoyler's article on Rotherham, which highlighted the stark contrast between town centres and out-of-town retail parks. One retail park existed in Britain in 1981; by 1996, there were 385. Parkgate opened in 1987, and MPs warned it would "disembowel" towns and villages. Rotherham town centre is now 24% vacant, while retail park vacancy nationally sits at 4.8%.
A Proposal for a Parcel Levy
Dan Johnson, co-founder of Crafty Vintage in Whalley, Lancashire, proposes putting £1 on every parcel delivered to a residential address, while charging nothing if it is collected from a shop, locker, or pickup point in town. The money would be ringfenced by law and returned to the council area where the parcel landed, with 60% going to transport and 40% to markets and high streets.
Johnson argues that "the pound is not the point; the exemption is." The cheapest way to receive a parcel would involve walking into a town centre, which he says would do more for Rotherham than any grant. He notes that up to 3bn parcels a year now land on British doorsteps, and not one passes through a town centre.
Community-Led Loyalty Platform
Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook, a community-focused cafe in Hastings, launched My Local First, a loyalty and rewards platform to bring independent businesses together. Customers earn rewards for spending locally and discover other independent businesses. Businesses can participate for just £10 a month, without paying commission on their sales to the platform.
Ashley says high streets cannot thrive if the people living around them cannot afford to participate in their local economy, so the platform is also developing ways to connect affordable food and discreet community support. He believes communities need to take responsibility for their own local economies, rather than relying solely on councils or government grants.
Empowering Communities and Repurposing Buildings
Matthew Mckeague, CEO of the Architectural Heritage Fund, highlights projects like High Street West in Sunderland, a mixed-use approach to derelict shops that delivered a cafe, music venue, and workspaces. He also cites Valley Heritage's development in Bacup, Lancashire, where a Grade II former bank has been split into co-working space and affordable housing.
Mckeague says it is about empowering communities who are passionate about their environment, and while many town centres are challenging, a growing number offer a more positive future that could be replicated elsewhere.
Housing and Services as a New Purpose
Helen Roberts from Sheffield argues that saving the British high street means accepting that retail can no longer be its primary purpose. She suggests councils should acquire vacant or persistently underused sites and replace poor-quality empty buildings with well-insulated, low-rise homes for renters and young professionals. New developments could be designed so that extra floors or modular homes can be added later as demand grows.
Roberts says housing alone will not make a thriving neighbourhood and should be interspersed with services such as walk-in health and mental health support, childcare, community and arts spaces, and other local amenities. She also calls for more green spaces, with trees, planting, and small parks to respond to climate change and air pollution. Councils should use planning and licensing powers carefully to encourage a balanced mix of businesses.
Roberts concludes that the high street will not be saved by restoring the past, but its future could lie in becoming a place to live, meet, access services, and build community, with retail as one part of a much broader purpose.
