High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry launched

• Inquiry: High streets and town centres in 2030
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

The inquiry

The inquiry will examine the future role of the high street in contributing to the local economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local community and the challenges faced amid changing demographic, technological and other trends in recent decades.

It will also look at how local areas are planning for the future of their high streets and town centres and creating the conditions to sustain them in the years ahead, as well as whether councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other tools needed to help local areas flourish.

High streets are struggling

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Committee said:

"Our high streets and town centres have an important social, civic and cultural place in our society. But, many of our high streets are now struggling, facing a range of challenges including the threat posed by online retailers. Indeed, changing trends and behaviours in recent decades – driven by a range of economic, demographic, social and technological factors – have affected the prosperity and vibrancy of our high streets.

High streets and town centres retain an important place in our society but what do we want them to look like in 2030 and what actions do we need from local and central government to ensure their longevity?"

Tweet your views

Alongside the call for evidence, the Committee welcomes the views of the public on why their high-street matters and what they think could be improved about it. The public can tweet their views and pictures of their high street on #myhighstreetmatters to @CommonsCLG.

Government's previous work

The HCLG Committee's inquiry is a likely to examine the legacy of the Government's previous work on the high street, including the Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and the Great British High Street.

Terms of reference

The Committee is inviting submissions on what high streets and town centres will look like in 2030.

In considering this question, submitters may wish to address:

• The role of high streets and town centres in contributing to the local economy and the health, wellbeing, cohesion and cultural life of the local community
• The economic, demographic, social and technological challenges facing high streets and town centres and how they are likely to develop over the next ten years
• How high streets and town centres are adapting to meet these challenges, the conditions necessary for sustainability, for example, residential development and related infrastructure, and how local areas are planning for the future
• The outlook for high streets and town centres that cannot rely on consumer spending and business growth and investment
• Whether councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other tools needed to help local areas flourish and how they make use of these
• The legacy of the Government's previous work on the high street, including the Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and the Great British High Street

Closing date for written submissions: Friday 22 June 2018.

• Send a written submission to the High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: iStockphoto