Do we need a High Street?
On Thursday 4th November we welcomed attendees to our biannual RREF Forum entitled, Do we need a high street? Vanishing household names in retail is now no longer shocking, with the stories of Arcadia Group and Debenhams taking centre stage in the press. An undeniable signal of change, but what does this mean for the high street itself? Do we even need a high street? Or just not as we know it?
Dr Emma Street (Associate Professor of Urban Policy and Governance, Real Estate & Planning, Henley Business School), Clive Bentley (Property Director at Pizza Express) and Jennet Siebrits (Executive Director, Head of UK Research, CBRE) were all proponents for the high street but each raised different concerns and challenges that need to be overcome in order for it’s future to be self-sustaining. Clive’s experience particularly highlighted the challenges around rent, new living wages and planning controls that can suffocate the profits, if any, made on the high street. Emma was particularly concerned about the need for mixed use spaces and the centrality of community to commercial success. Jen too looked at the opportunities of the future and what CBRE research highlights for the future of this space.
What does your organisation think of sustainability? Is the new target for Net Zero achievable or seriously deluded? Can we get beyond greenwashing and actually make a difference for the planet? As we prepare for our RREF Forum in March we would love to hear from you and your organisation email [email protected] for your opportunity to contribute to the debate.