It's dying because there is no convenient parking.
#newsnight #atapropertime

I am very, very bored with "the state of our High St." as a political narrative.
#newsnight #atapropertime

You know the High St. is fucked when even the charity shops are closing - costs are too high, footfall is too low.
#newsnight #atapropertime

The High St. is not going to be revived by indie bookstores, artisinal coffee-shops or sustainable-cosmetic boutiques.
They will not survive without the traffic brought in by the butcher, the baker & the greengrocer. Who are now all in the big Tesco/Morrisons/ Sainsburys &c
#newsnight #atapropertime

If you see a business thriving on the High St., it's more likely to be a criminally adjacent money-laundering front than the result of some go-ahead local entrepreneur bucking the trend.
#newsnight #atapropertime

It's dying because costs/square ft are too high for modern retail.
#newsnight #atapropertime

The 'High St.' is on its arse because it is an economic basket-case.
#newsnight #atapropertime

If we're not careful we'll end up distorting the entire local retail economy to engineer some warped RefUK FB-nostalgia simulacrum of 'wear are Mam went shopping in the '50s' heritage-High St that's no use to anybody.
#newsnight #atapropertime

Today you go to a retail park on the edge of town. Parking is free. Within easy walking distance is a big supermarket. A John Lewis. A Currys. A Dunelm. A TK Maxx. A Next. etc.
Many of them have a cafe/coffee shop in them. This is the modern High St.
#newsnight #atapropertime

Edge of town retail parks, with their convenient parking, large stores & popular hospitality venues are where all the off-line retail economic activity is happening.
#newsnight #atapropertime