image for illustration: Redruth High St, John Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry into revitalising England’s high streets and town centres, examining the impact of unwanted retail and service uses… regeneration approaches… review local authority powers… business and Pride in Place, closing 7 September.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee writes:
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry looking at the action needed to revitalise the nation’s high streets.
The cross-party inquiry will examine the proliferation of ‘unwanted’ retail and services – such as new betting shops, vape shops and fake barbers – and the impact they have on high streets and community pride.
MPs will examine the different approaches to high street regeneration, such as design codes, street furniture, and pedestrianisation, and explore the effectiveness of local council powers, such as High Street Rental Auctions, Compulsory Purchase Orders and the Community Right to Buy.
The inquiry will assess the impact of recent changes to business rates on high streets and consider proposals for future changes to support high street businesses.
As part of this inquiry, MPs may also examine the accessibility of high streets for disabled people, older people and families with children, and the role accessibility should play in future regeneration improvements.
MPs will also tackle the question of whether local authorities’ Trading Standards departments are sufficiently funded and resourced to improve problem high streets alongside the new High Streets Organised Crime Unit.
The inquiry will scrutinise the government’s measures to support the high street. The government has announced investments of up to £5.8 billion over 10 years through the Pride in Place Programme, which is stated to provide up to £20m to hundreds of areas over the next decade.
Chair comment
Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: ‘People across the country are worried about the decline of their high streets. The ongoing impact of internet shopping and a range of increased cost pressures in recent times have hit many high street businesses hard.
‘The growing clustering of ‘unwanted’ businesses such as vape shops and betting shops can be linked to the hollowing out of many of our high streets, making it even harder to attract investment and footfall to our town centres. But this isn’t the picture everywhere. Many places in England are successful in supporting independent businesses and making high streets places which residents can be proud of.
‘In our inquiry, we want to look at government support for high streets and how effective Pride in Place funding will be in directing funding to those communities who need it most. We also want to explore the approaches which have been successful in boosting the economic and social life of our high streets and what conditions are needed to bring life back to high streets across England’.
The HCLG Committee’s inquiry will also consider the government’s upcoming High Streets Strategy and any forthcoming government plans for high street regeneration.
Terms of reference – Revitalising high streets
The Committee welcomes written evidence on the terms of reference outlined below. The closing date for submissions is Monday 7 September 2026.
- What impact does the clustering of similar retail and service outlets, such as betting shops, vape shops and barbers, have on high streets and community pride?
- What new planning powers is the government proposing to empower communities to block ‘unwanted’ businesses from high streets, and how effective will these powers be?
- Are local authorities’ Trading Standards departments sufficiently funded and resourced to improve problem high streets alongside the new High Streets Organised Crime Unit?
- What factors and approaches have led to successful high street regeneration in different parts of England?
- What conditions might allow for such approaches to be replicated in other areas?
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of different approaches to public realm improvements on high streets, such as design codes, street furniture, and pedestrianisation?
- How effective are existing local powers at supporting high streets, such as High Street Rental Auctions, Compulsory Purchase Orders and the Community Right to Buy?
- What impacts can improvements to a high street have on community pride and people’s sense of belonging?
- What impact have recent changes to business rates had on high street businesses?
- Are allocation methods for Pride in Place funding suitable to ensure funding reaches communities where it is most needed?
- How effective are the government’s plans to address current challenges on high streets across England?
