A new report co-written by Patrick Hurley MP, the Policy Liaison Group for Housing Delivery & Growth has unveiled a set of recommendations aimed at supporting and revitalising high street businesses across the UK.

The report, ‘Opening Joe Bloggs’ Café’, developed in collaboration with industry experts from the High Streets Task Force and Deliveroo, highlights the urgent challenges facing high streets, critiques the government’s plans for a National Licensing Policy Framework, and analyses the policy blockages preventing businesses from operating effectively. 

The paper sets out practical, targeted measures to help ensure high streets continue to function as vibrant centres of economic and social activity. Key recommendations for government include:

  • Reassessing the role of licensing authorities in light of devolution
  • Expanding eligibility for regeneration funding beyond deprivation-based indices
  • Launching a consultation on commercial lease reform tailored to the retail sector
  • Introducing a government-backed SME lease guarantee scheme via the British Business Bank to replace personal guarantees and reduce excessive upfront deposits
  • Providing national funding for “vacancy brokerage” roles to match empty retail units with suitable prospective occupiers

Commenting on the launch of the report, Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, said: “High streets are a vital part of our local economies and civic life.

“They are where many small businesses begin, where entrepreneurs take risks and where jobs are created. When they thrive, they generate opportunity, resilience and stability. When they struggle, it is often because the ecosystems around them are not working as they should.

“That’s why I welcome the practical, solutions-focused proposals set out in this paper. Rather than taking an ideological approach, it focuses on targeted measures - including retail lease reform, statutory transaction timeframes, low-cost arbitration and a government-backed lease guarantee scheme - to reduce friction in the system and rebalance risk between landlords and occupiers.” 

Laurie Wilcockson, Policy Manager at the Policy Liaison Group for Housing Delivery & Growth said: “As the government begins planning its high streets strategy, it is important that it bases its decisions on real data.

“In all sorts of areas: business rates, licensing reform, planning reform, land ownership - there is not enough awareness, accountability and transparency around Britain’s high streets. If the government wants to see real impactful change in this parliament, it will find welcome supporters in communities and businesses, who are eager to support Britain’s high streets. Its own job is to provide the data, frameworks and means for that to happen.”

The proposals set out in the report are designed to help steward the government’s plans for improving Britain’s high streets, with constructive advice on how better to implement reforms on licensing frameworks, local accountability and commercial leasehold reform. The findings will be shared with the UK Government and relevant stakeholders across Parliament, industry and civil society.