London’s high streets and town centres are undergoing transformation.
Even before the pandemic, changing shopping patterns and the growth of online retail meant retail was evolving. It is increasingly experience-led and many retailers are restructuring to build greater flexibility into their offer as they respond to a new dynamic.
But retail is only one aspect of our high streets and town centres. The remaining space is taken up with offices, public services, bars, restaurants, cultural venues, maker space, housing and many other uses.
The high streets and town centres that succeed will likely be more compact, with a broader mix of these activities. Ensuring they remain vibrant, and diverse, will be vital to maintaining London’s reputation as a great place to live as was move into recovery.