{"id":47594,"date":"2026-08-07T18:49:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47594"},"modified":"2026-08-07T18:49:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:49:23","slug":"hclg-committee-launches-inquiry-into-revitalising-high-streets-open-to-07-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47594","title":{"rendered":"HCLG Committee launches Inquiry into \u2018Revitalising High Streets\u2019, open to 07\/09"},"content":{"rendered":"
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image for illustration: Redruth High St, John Lucas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry into revitalising England\u2019s high streets and town centres, examining the impact of unwanted retail and service uses\u2026 regeneration approaches\u2026 review local authority powers\u2026 business and Pride in Place, closing 7 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched an inquiry looking at the action needed to revitalise the nation\u2019s high streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cross-party inquiry will examine the proliferation of \u2018unwanted\u2019 retail and services \u2013 such as new betting shops, vape shops and fake barbers \u2013 and the impact they have on high streets and community pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MPs will also tackle the question of whether local authorities\u2019 Trading Standards departments are sufficiently funded and resourced to improve problem high streets alongside the new High Streets Organised Crime Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inquiry will scrutinise the government\u2019s measures to support the high street. The government has announced investments of up to \u00a35.8 billion over 10 years through the Pride in Place Programme<\/a>, which is stated to provide up to \u00a320m to hundreds of areas over the next decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair comment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: \u2018People 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The growing clustering of \u2018unwanted\u2019 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\u2019t the picture everywhere. Many places in England are successful in supporting independent businesses and making high streets places which residents can be proud of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018In 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\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HCLG Committee\u2019s inquiry will also consider the government\u2019s upcoming High Streets Strategy and any forthcoming government plans for high street regeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terms of reference \u2013 Revitalising high streets<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Committee welcomes written evidence on the terms of reference outlined below. The closing date for submissions is Monday 7 September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n