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University researchers to explore high street futures

Researchers at the University of Southampton have been awarded over £250,000 to evaluate alternative visions of the UK high street over the next 25 years.

With the future of UK town centres in the spotlight following the Portas Review, the university team will look to the future of retail.

Professor Neil Wrigley, who is leading the research, said: “We will look at how retail and services provision might evolve over the next quarter century, and, in-turn, to what extent and how our town centres and high streets are likely to adapt and change to survive.”

The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, with support from Tesco.

It aims to provide a range of visions on the future of high streets, in terms of their social, economic and environmental impact; explore the ways in which town centres and high streets show resilience by adapting and evolving; and to consider what facets of high streets might best be supported by future policy interventions.

Along with Professor Michelle Lowe of Southampton Management School, Professor Wrigley will engage with expert panels, comprising retail and property leaders, local and national government and academia.

Alongside this, they will conduct in-depth interviews with key stakeholders; explore case studies of specific high streets; and examine successful small to medium sized businesses which can act as ‘local heroes’ for retail in their towns.

Professor Wrigley: “There is a growing sense that the time may be right for reinvigorated and coordinated policy responses on high streets, and that the Portas Review has provided a helpful catalyst.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .