It occurred to me as I sauntered through Bromley High street at lunch that what with the lack of housing and the dying high street that there may be a solution to both staring us in the face.

The high street as we knew it as kids with departmental stores is dying, being overrun by the internet offerings now available and the ability to have it all delivered at the touch of a button; so what will happen to all those empty units?

Surely the answer would be to convert them to apartments etc as they close down, to ensure that the area is still populated (as opposed to becoming wastelands) and encourage a more Cafe centric culture akin to our neighbours on the continent.

Rarely will you see a market square in Europe dominated by shops, but instead cafe's to sit and mingle with friends and family etc generating a more relaxed atmosphere.

Surely this could work here? Whilst keeping the town hubs alive and perhaps providing other opportunities for business to start up?

I think it would be the ideal chance for any Government to at least be seen to address the issue of both housing and declining retail giants; but they MUST ensure that any units wouldn't be the preserve of the wealthy but have a minimum 'mix' of occupants in order to allow development.

Thoughts??

The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

I think it is already happening. In Beckenham high street nearly every shop has a flat above them those that don't have planning permissions in the works. I get this from a local residents association that monitors this stuff.

Mary Portas has a good idea councils need to stop defending the whole length of the high street. Many have vacant shops scattered through them. Her idea is to accept that you don't need as many units and move the shops at the ends into the middle filling in the gaps. You can then build or convert the bits at the end into housing.

When I look at Beckenham high street as a whole you could probably reduce it by a third and not lose any actual shops, and it is only going to get worse. We have many estate agent units as the OP says the internet will mean they will not be required in the future. The only growth seems to be charity shops and bars and restaurants. But many units are too small for eating and drinking so unless you start knocking units together they stay empty.

So yes I agree with the OP we need to get radical with our high streets and free up vacant land for living.

One more point

Yes that maybe true but if the property is vacant you aren't getting any rent. And yes business rates is a huge issue which is driving the empty high streets. We need a major overhaul of the business rates I am not sure how they work but I would like to see councils able to tax bookmakers and takeaways more and reduce the rates for socially responsible shops.

One more point

Commercial properties still pay their business rates, occupied or not, the landlords can only get 3 months rate relief for an empty unit and that can only be used once in a blue moon. i.e. a change of occupiers.

Councils don't like giving change of use out very easily either.

Optimistic as ever

According to the BBC up to 200 shopping centres across the country are in big trouble.

[Link]

It says most are owned by private equity firms which would explain their reluctance to drop rents for chains that are at risk of going bust. Presumably as the big chains fail the units are left empty so no rent.

I suppose if you are a private equity firm you are just looking for a return on your money so if that means selling the centre for housing so be it.

Interesting times ahead for the high street and shopping centre.

One more point

Unless they've got their own free, and plentiful, parking a lot of people don't want to go to them. To drive into Croydon for example and spend a day shopping you'd probably have to spend over £10 on parking. Even ones like Lakeside and Bluewater which do have free parking you can spend hours queuing to get in or out when they're busy.

Optimistic as ever