‘A renaissance of our high streets is in reach’

The condition of Britain’s High Streets has become a stark symbol of economic decline and state failure. The rapid takeover by minimarts, vape shops, nail bars, candy stores and barbers have rightly raised questions about the legitimacy of those businesses, and caused damage to those retailers who play by the rules.

That’s why it’s hugely welcome that Andy Burnham has said that we should “make our high streets the symbols of Britain’s renaissance” and started to deliver on that promise with a policy package to give local communities more tools to resist more openings. It’s a potent political issue with a big electoral upside if the government can finally execute on a strategy to revitalise the high street.

That’s the context for this week’s announcement of significant new powers for local communities to push back the slot machines, vape stores and other questionable businesses that nobody has asked for. What’s needed next is a whole of government strategy to focus on preventing unwanted and dodgy businesses opening, going after the criminality hidden in plain sight, and providing support to new legitimate businesses to flourish in their place.

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In Kensington & Bayswater I have been fighting alongside residents on two fronts. First, the relentless applications for new Adult Gaming Centres operating 24/7 in prominent locations. In Earl’s Court thousands of residents objected, alongside local businesses and Councillors. The operator was successful in obtaining a gambling license, but because they wanted to convert a former Bank a planning application was needed and under heavy pressure the Council denied it, although it will now go to appeal. This example shows how important it is to end “Aim to Permit”, an unintended consequence of the 2005 Gambling Act that has made councils extremely reticent to reject new gambling license applications. Forcing slot machine casinos and vape stores to go through the planning system for all new premises will also provide significant new opportunities for local objections, as we managed to do in Earl’s Court.

The second area is dodgy shops. Beyond the licensing and planning system, we must end the impunity for high street criminality so brilliantly exposed by investigative journalists at the BBC and London Centric. There are now glimmers of hope that the tide is turning.

Operation Machinize led by the National Crime Agency has raided thousands of shops, and revealed a stark picture of the range of criminality on our high streets. The scale and range of offences should be a wake up call. This operation involved visits to over 2700 premises, with nearly 1000 arrests, millions of pounds of seized cash and massive amounts of illicit vapes, tobacco and drugs, as well as illegal working. It’s no exaggeration to say these premises have become crime hubs at the heart of our towns and cities.

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Now, thanks to investment at the last Budget, the goal is to turn Operation Machinize into a permanent initiative to disrupt these serious organised crime organisations, alongside rebuilding Trading Standards teams that have often been hollowed out by local government austerity under the Tories. The new policy of extending closure orders from 6 to 12 months will be a vital tool which will allow investigations to be completed, rather than the same people simply re-opening under a different corporate identity.

I’m also encouraged by the expansion of HMRC’s high streets tax dodging unit, which will aggressively pursue VAT and business rate evasion which can give these businesses a financial edge over legitimate rivals. Their standard playbook is to evade the tax, then collapse the business and open under a newly registered entity. That’s why it’s so key that Companies House are able to share their data, and crack down on rogue directors. It’s also essential the Post Office, which has become one of the main routes for depositing dodgy cash, increases their anti-money laundering efforts.

These are all pieces of the high street puzzle falling into place. A stronger local voice on what opens up, combined with enforcement of the rules so many are flouting, will make a real difference.

The next step is support for new businesses to open and flourish. Some pioneering councils have supported start ups with business rate discounts, ‘meanwhile use’ arrangements for empty property and small business support. Those are all ideas that can be built on in what, I hope, will be a really ambitious High Streets Strategy from the Government later this year. From Makerfield to Kensington & Bayswater, turning around our high streets is a popular cause that will show in tangible ways that this Government is delivering on its promise of change. 

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