What is the future of the high street?

After decades of decline due to lack of investment and the move to online, nobody could have predicted that the devastation of many high streets would come in the space of only 12 months.

The pandemic led to shops being boarded up and never reopening and mass job losses. The pandemic did not cause this, but accelerated what some had been warning for years.

Nobody can predict what the future holds for high streets in towns and cities across the country, but we can begin to do something about it.

The future high streets fund has made funding available to renew and reshape high streets, in a way that is supposed to drive growth, experiences and sustainability. Teignbridge District Council working with consultants, Quarterbridge have submitted plans and been successful in bidding for £9 million in funding. It seems the future of the high street in Newton Abbot has been decided already.

The plans which have remained mostly unchanged since revealed have faced widespread opposition from the community.

Especially the plans to turn the market hall into a multi-use space, which would include relocating the town’s cinema and loss of the Alexandra theatre space. The plans for major change in Queen street and the market hall have also faced criticism from local market and shop traders. Despite a consultation on the plans, the council and their consultants seem unwilling to change the plans to meet the needs and demands of the community.

High streets have and need to change to meet the needs of communities, not just be replicas of each other. People are now looking for more dynamic high streets, places to do stuff, rather than buy stuff.

While towns and cities do desperately need investment after years of neglect, investment needs to be focused on projects that are local and community driven.

We need to rethink the approach concerning empty premises, large former retail sites are unlikely to be taken up by retailers again. All the empty space on our high streets could be turned into things that the community needs like homes and amenities, such as medical centres and leisure facilities.

The increase in flexible working should also be embraced in smaller towns, by creating co working spaces for those who want flexible working to mean staying closer to home.

The plans for the future of Newton Abbot town centre were dreamt up by consultants who think the same approach works everywhere.

At the consultation phase the community is asked what they think of the plans, not what they want.

Those campaigning to save the Alexandra theatre want a cultural and arts hub kept in a restored theatre.

Market stall holders and traders want a space that people can use, so their businesses can thrive.

By building on and securing the future of the Alexandra theatre and making the town a place people want to visit, the rest of the town can thrive.