Select committee to review effectiveness of local council powers in rejuvenating high streets

The inquiry will also examine the sharp rise of “unwanted” retail and services and the impact they have on high streets and community pride.

The committee will consider whether local authorities’ Trading Standards departments are sufficiently funded and resourced to improve problem high streets alongside the new High Streets Organised Crime Unit.

As a part of the inquiry, the committee will scrutinise the Government’s measures to support the high street. This includes the Pride in Place Programme, which pledges up to £5 billion in funding to be allocated to ‘Neighbourhood Boards’ over 10 years.

These Neighbourhood Boards will be supported by both the local authority and the constituency MP.

Finally, the HCLG Committee’s inquiry will consider the government’s upcoming High Streets Strategy and any forthcoming government plans for high street regeneration.

Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: "People across the country are worried about the decline of their high streets. The ongoing impact of internet shopping and a range of increased cost pressures in recent times have hit many high street businesses hard.

“The growing clustering of ‘unwanted’ businesses such as vape shops and betting shops can be linked to the hollowing out of many of our high streets, making it even harder to attract investment and footfall to our town centres. But this isn’t the picture everywhere. Many places in England are successful in supporting independent businesses and making high streets places which residents can be proud of.

“In our inquiry, we want to look at government support for high streets and how effective Pride in Place funding will be in directing funding to those communities who need it most. We also want to explore the approaches which have been successful in boosting the economic and social life of our high streets and what conditions are needed to bring life back to high streets across England”.

Harry Rodd