Multi-function high streets for the future
The high street is being squeezed by rising costs and growing pressure online but initiatives are taking place across Bath and North East Somerset to help businesses keep pace and stay relevant.
The council owns 450 commercial properties and is looking to introduce flexible rents, as well as training at window dressing to help shops stand out from the crowd.
Meanwhile Bath BID, which represents 710 businesses, is looking to tap into data from Mastercard and O2 that reveals how shoppers move through the city.
Allison Herbert, its chief executive, told a council scrutiny meeting the data is too expensive for the BID alone so it is clubbing together with the police anti-terrorism unit and Bath Rugby Club, which hopes to understand how its huge numbers of fans get around.
She said the BID is also planning to stage an open day to advertise some of the city centre’s vacant shops in a bid to attract retailers, citing Zara as one she would like to see.
But she said town and city centres are changing, with a growing focus on services like hairdressers that provide human interaction, adding: “High streets are going to become more multi-functional.
“Town centres have always been places where people gather. We have to ensure that what we provide is in their interest.”
Giving the national picture, Matthew Morris from property consultancy firm GVA said: “Food and drink have practically been the saviour of some high streets. A coffee shop may be equally as important as a shoe shop in terms of footfall.
“There had been a significant decline in shop numbers. Now there are more stores opening than closing. It’s been a particularly difficult year on the high street - Toys R Us has closed, House of Fraser is seeing significant closures, Carpet Right is closing a quarter of its stores. There are some winners. B&M is aggressively expanding.”
The meeting heard that Bath and North East Somerset Council is now more flexible to changes of use away from retail - to functions including coffee shops to takeaways - as long as it does not lead to “fragmentation” of shop frontages. An officer said the authority’s updated Local Plan could be “even more flexible”.
Councillor Barry Macrae said the problem with the Local Plan is that it takes so long to complete that it is soon out of date. He called for more urgency.
We have to be sure that what we provide is in people’s interest
He added: “Thirty years ago, Bath was unique - people came here for a unique retail experience. You had a class and a quality of shops that didn’t exist in Swindon, Gloucester, Taunton or Bristol.
“Now we have the same old, same old. We aren’t bringing small businesses into Bath. We’re bringing the big boys. How do we get the variety and the quality?”
Cllr Rob Appleyard said: “It’s people’s habits that are driving this, you can’t fight it. For years and years, Primark tried to get into Bath. Now I suspect it’s one of the most heavily shopped shops in the high centre. People are going to lead us by their behaviour.”
Rob Dawson from the council’s business development team said it offers support to traders including helping them to get an online presence, even if it is as simple as listing their opening hours on a Facebook page.
He said the council is also looking to create a new short-term lease to offer a more flexible approach to businesses that want it.