Local authorities will have to prove ‘adept’ in making use of the tools and resources at their disposal if high streets are going to survive, think tank says.

Think tank Localis has today published a policy toolkit setting out how high streets across Kent and Medway are tackling a changing and challenging retail landscape.

Entitled Recovery and Renewal on the Kent High Street, the study sets out examples of how Kent’s local centres are adapting to maintain a sense of pride in place amid a fast-changing retail and cultural climate.

Drawing on experience from stakeholders across Kent’s local government and business community, the toolkit considers a number of factors local economies are contending with, including the balance between retail, leisure and other offers, success factors underpinning strong town centre performance and the role of local authorities in nurturing high streets.

The policy options covered by the study include placemaking, coping with post-pandemic changes to the high street, decarbonisation and sustainability, labour markets, diversity on the high street mix and how to overcome barriers to recovery.

Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: ‘Driving innovation in the centre of towns will be crucial to their short-term survival and long-term renaissance and ensuring residents feel a strong sense of pride in place.

‘Local government, as the key institutional player in the long-term management of high streets and town centres will, as this toolkit outlines, have to prove adept and adroit in making use of the tools and resources at its disposal.’

Cllr Roger Gough, leader of Kent County Council, said: ‘A vibrant high street or town centre is central to local growth and a sense of place – this first Localis policy toolkit offers an array of ideas and options showing how by working together nationally and locally we may achieve this.

‘For a national Government rightly intent on Levelling Up, the high street has taken on a new importance. This report offers a portfolio of local solutions and national policy ideas which could make levelling up on our high streets a reality.’

For more on high street renewal check out this feature in The MJ (£).