UK High Streets are facing an unprecedented period of turbulent change. Even before the pandemic, the global economic crisis of 2007-2009 along with the development of out-of-town shopping and the growth of online retailing have all directly affected the vibrancy of high streets, leading to store closures, household brands disappearing and the threat of unemployment for thousands of local people. Labour is focusing its efforts on helping town centres adapt to these seismic changes.

What is Labour doing locally?

• Working in partnership with local businesses, residents and civic leaders to create plans for individual town centres and high streets that focus on customer experience and will help to create places where people want to live, work, learn or visit.
• Looking for opportunities to physically re-purpose unused space for leisure, culture, arts, and to build stronger communities.
• Developing high streets and town centres as community hubs, bringing together libraries, local services, markets, retail, hospitality and visitor attractions, alongside residential, transport hubs and workspace wherever possible.
• Increasing the number of residential properties in town centres to support a new and vibrant mix of businesses.
• Supporting events that bring people into the town centre.
• Creating new co-working space and office space to encourage people to work in town instead of out of town.
• Starting new Landlord Forums in towns to try and work collaboratively with property owners on plans to bring vacant or under-used property back in to use.
• Implementing a digital signage strategy for town centres that will support local businesses to promote themselves, improve how the council and other organisations provide public information and modernise the way we manage town centres.
• Working with the LEP and Marketing Cheshire to strengthen our marketing of local areas.