Retail | LocalGov


Amazon picks Darlington for first UK drone deliveries 28/01/2025 Global retailer Amazon has chosen Darlington for the UK launch of drone deliveries.
37 shops lost each day in 2024, data suggests 02/01/2025 Almost 13,500 retail stores in the UK closed for good last year, equivalent to about 37 shops a day, new data has found.
M&S triumphant after three-year demolition bid 06/12/2024 Oxford Street’s M&S store can be demolished, the Government has ruled, more than three years after the retailer submitted plans to rebuild the flagship shop.
Historic London markets set to close 27/11/2024 Two of the capital’s oldest food markets are set to close after the City of London Corporation agreed to pull out of running them.
New powers for councils to tackle empty shops 12/11/2024 Local authorities will get new powers next month to force landlords to rent out persistently empty high street properties.
Budget: Chancellor promises to permanently lower business rates 30/10/2024 The chancellor prioritised delivering permanently lower business rates from 2026-27 in the Budget by lowering multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties.
Ministers back Khan to pedestrianise Oxford Street 17/09/2024 The mayor of London has unveiled government-backed plans to pedestrianise the capital's most famous shopping street.
Bromley first to approve John Lewis homes 26/07/2024 Councillors have approved retailer John Lewis’ plans to build a housing block above a Waitrose store in Bromley town centre.
Birmingham councillors sign off on £1.9bn redevelopment 14/06/2024 Birmingham City Council's planning committee has given the go ahead to developer Lendlease for the £1.9bn redevelopment of the Smithfield site.
John Lewis appealing leaves Ealing reeling 12/06/2024 Ealing Council said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ after an unexpected appeal by John Lewis over the firm’s plans to build rental homes.
The flaws in ‘Clarkson’s clause’ 10/06/2024 Following Jeremy Clarkson-inspired legislative changes around planning permission in rural areas, Kerry Booth, Rural Services Network, shares her concerns.
Lib Dems pledge to scrap business rates 09/04/2024 The Liberal Democrats would deliver tax reforms to ‘revive struggling high streets’, leader Ed Davey will announce today.
High Court overrules Gove on M&S demolition 04/03/2024 The Government’s decision to block Marks & Spencer’s plans to demolish and redevelop its flagship central London store was unlawful, the High Court has ruled.
Councils call for ‘autonomy’ under EPR 26/02/2024 Councils must still have the autonomy to run waste services according to local need under new packaging reforms, the Local Government Association has said.
Vape industry proposes alcohol-style licensing scheme 21/02/2024 A first-of-its kind licensing framework for the UK vape industry is being put forward in Parliament today.
The Trading Standards Crisis 15/02/2024 John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, discusses the impact of the local government funding crisis on Trading Standards.
Vape sniffer dog uncovers £18.5k of contraband 27/11/2023 A sniffer dog has helped Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards team uncover thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit e-cigarettes and tobacco.
Brighton Christmas market cancelled 17/11/2023 Residents of Brighton and Hove will have to miss out on the Christmas market this year after the city council failed to find a commercial partner to fund it.
Bury Market partially closes for RAAC safety checks 27/10/2023 Bury Market’s indoor stalls, which contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, have been closed for safety works.
High street facing ‘terminal decline’, union warns 09/10/2023 The high street may be facing a ‘terminal decline’ as more than 420,000 traditional retail jobs have been lost since 2010, the union GMB has warned.
Council buys £14m shopping centre 04/10/2023 Fareham Borough Council has spent £14m acquiring the town’s high street shopping centre and adjoining properties.
Pubs 'vanishing' at alarming rate as closures jump 50% 18/09/2023 The number of pubs that have been demolished or converted into other types of use has risen dramatically, with over 380 ‘vanishing’ this year.
Council signs deal for Oxford Street revamp 14/09/2023 Westminster City Council has signed a new agreement and approved the next stage of a £90m investment in Oxford Street this week.
Oxford to build hundreds of affordable homes 17/08/2023 Oxford City Council has approved plans to develop 294 affordable homes, along with new retail spaces and community facilities.
Councils need ‘cohesive plan’ after loss of 6,000 stores 28/07/2023 British Retail Consortium found that Britain lost 6,000 shops in five years and warned that councils must make a ‘cohesive plan’ to revive shopping areas.
Retailers criticise ‘extended producer responsibility’ scheme 02/06/2023 A plan to make food manufacturers pay councils for the collection and recycling of packaging waste is facing opposition from retailers and manufacturers.
Crackdown on sale of vapes to children launched 30/05/2023 A review of the rules governing the sale of vapes to under 18s could make it easier for local Trading Standards to issue fines and fixed penalty notices.
One in 10 takeaways fail food standards inspections 30/05/2023 Councils should be enabled to spend more time ensuring food standards are maintained, study says as one in 10 takeaways are found to have failed inspections.
Westminster council takes on tax avoiding candy stores 25/05/2023 Westminster City Council has declared war on US-style candy and souvenir stores that are failing to pay business rates or selling illegal or unsafe goods.
North East has highest percentage of empty shops 10/05/2023 The North East has the highest percentage of empty high street shops in Britain, a new study has revealed.
New £350m fund could help communities revive high streets 10/08/2022 A new study has called for the creation of a fund that can help local communities takeover empty high street buildings as a record number of shops stand empty.
Retailers tell Government to fix ‘broken’ business rates system 10/08/2021 Retailers have urged the Government to reform the business rates system as part of the effort to help high streets recover from the pandemic.
Chelmsford sees largest increase in footfall since easing of lockdown 21/04/2021 Chelmsford has seen the largest increase in footfall since non-essential stores opened earlier this month, but Exeter is where people are going into shops.
Councillors look abroad to learn how to ‘deliver a high street renaissance’ 07/02/2020 District councils are looking to Belgium for ideas about how to revitalize town centres.
High street hit as retail employment falls by 85,000 24/10/2019 ‘Weak’ consumer demand and ‘Brexit uncertainty’ have been blamed for the decline of the high street as figures reveal thousands of retail jobs have been lost.
High streets see ‘record decline’ in shops as 16 close each day 11/09/2019 High streets have been hit hard this year with a record decline in store numbers being recorded for the first half of 2019.
High street retailers call for reform of ‘broken’ business rates 13/08/2019 Over 50 high street retailers have signed a letter calling on Chancellor Sajid Javid to reform the business rates system.
Say ‘no to ugliness’, commission tells planners 10/07/2019 Councils should 'say no to ugliness' in their planning decisions, according to a report commissioned by the Government.
Protecting town centres 10/06/2019 Debenhams CVA: Josh Myerson and Andrew Haughey explain what councils and local authorities can do to protect their town centres.
Council chiefs warn of dangerous ‘must-have’ toys 24/12/2018 Local government leaders are warning Christmas shoppers to avoid potentially dangerous and fake ‘must-have’ toys.