High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry

The inquiry will examine the future role of the high street in contributing to the local economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local community and the challenges faced amid changing demographic, technological and other trends in recent decades. It will also look at how local areas are planning for the future of their high streets and town centres and creating the conditions to sustain them in the years ahead, as well as whether councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other tools needed to help local areas flourish. Terms of Reference The role of high streets and town centres in contributing to the local economy and the health, wellbeing, cohesion and cultural life of the local community The economic, demographic, social and technological challenges facing high streets and town centres and how they are likely to develop over the next ten years How high streets and town centres are adapting to meet these challenges, the conditions necessary for sustainability, for example, residential development and related infrastructure, and how local areas are planning for the future The outlook for high streets and town centres that cannot rely on consumer spending and business growth and investment Whether councils have the planning, licensing, tax raising and other tools needed to help local areas flourish and how they make use of these The legacy of the Government’s previous work on the high street, including the Portas Pilots, the Future High Streets Forum and the Great British High Street