Slightly bittersweet news regarding the acquisition of Topshop and Miss Selfridge by Asos, and Debenhams by Boohoo.
While it is good to see the survival of these iconic brands during difficult trading times, and there is no question that Asos and Boohoo are the right platform to retain and market these brands, the impact of vacant premises on the already declining high street is a concern.
At present, some offices can already be converted to residential use under General Permitted Development rights, but the government is seeking to extend these rights further to cover vacant shops. This would mean that vacant shops could be changed to residential premises without the need to apply for planning permission.
The demise of the high street to residential use would be disappointing. The Town and Country Planning (Use Class) Amendment (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020 No. 757) which was introduced by the government on 1 July 2020 and came into effect on 1 September 202, may offer alternative options. These Regulations have introduced a new planning class E which will allow a change of use between shops, restaurants, cafés, clinics, crèches, banks, offices, light industrial, indoor sports to another use within the new Use Class E, therefore ensuring the high street keeps its identity and promotes opportunities for mixed use, rather than shifting to residential.
As an avid (retail) shopper, I hope that landlords, tenants, developers and the local councils will work together to try save our traditional high street.
Council leaders all over the country will also be fretting at the rapid exodus from the High Street. Topshop once had 300 shops - only 70-odd are still operating - and Debenhams' 124 High Street stores are expected to close from next month. This is a double blow to town centres, which will now look much emptier when pandemic trading restrictions are lifted. Landlords will be wondering who might be their new tenants. As one retail observer has noted, there is only so much street food and crazy golf that a single postcode can take. Many councils will hope a conversion of empty premises into flats will make the difference. However, the British Property Federation is warning that new government plans to fast-track the re-purposing of retail premises risk making matters worse.