The high street used to be the hub of our communities but with the increase in online shopping and the recession, our high streets are going through a period of decline.  In recent years we have seen the demise of several of the high street’s staple stores: Woolworth, BHS, Austin Reed, Barratts, C&A plus many more.

It seems that every week there is another announcement of store closures.  Many household names are moving from the high street to out of town retail parks or consolidating their stores, such as the recent Sainsbury’s move to rollout Argos outlets in their supermarket stores.  Or they are simply closing down, unable or unwilling to compete with the huge online shopping boom. 

Banks have also added to the exodus as more of us complete our finances online and footfall into the branches has declined.

When a bank or a department store closes, this leaves huge units which landlords find hard to fill.  A few years ago it was the norm for a restaurant to open in former bank  premises with witty names such as The Trading Rooms, The Exchange but this has slowed in recent years as the restaurant industry are also feeling the pinch with Prezzo, Jamie’s Italian and Carluccios closing units.

There are predictions that with recent Government legislation affecting the gambling and estate agent/letting agent businesses there could be a movement off the high street for these types of outlet.

Whilst the move to online shopping is a factor, it is not the only reason for the change.  Business rates have never been higher and the increase to the National Minimum Wage and enrolment into pensions schemes for all employees have both had an effect and have added to the financial burden on retailers.

More consumers are choosing to shop at the large out-of-town shopping centres where the choice is wider and parking is free.   

Some high streets have managed to weather the storm but a vast majority have been changed forever.  My local high street is awash with mobile phone operators, charity shops, discount stores, coffee shops and empty units.  The local council is considering granting planning permission for a block of 500 flats where the latest vacancy has appeared when Top Shop and Top Man closed down their adjoining stores earlier this year.  Local opinion is divided with one side applauding the council for looking at the needs of local people and embracing change and the other side mourning the loss of the traditional high street and wanting to turn back time. 

So, what will the high street of the future look like?  Experts are predicting that the larger units will be converted to living accommodation.  Along with eateries, bars, coffee shops and some green space and with pedestrianisation now common on most high streets this would fit well with the view of communal areas for living and socialising on our now defunct shopping streets.  With café culture taking hold, where we once visited to shop we would now visit to socialise with friends.