Bill Grimsey, the former Chief Executive of Wickes, has put together a small team of experts to help combat the decline of the high street. Mary Portas was drafted in by the Government for this role, but he feels an alternative review of the high street is needed.
It isn’t very helpful says Mary Portas
Mr Grimsey feels that Portas Pilots only tinkers with small issues whereas the whole model needs revamping.
He said: “We’ve seen big structural changes and a huge shift in consumer behaviour and this needs to be matched by bold, transformational policy to support a completely different landscape.
“With the growth of online and mobile sales, as well as the big out of town mall culture, it is futile to start with the premise that retail will remain the dominant force on high streets, because it won’t.”
Mr Grimsey has put together a team of experts who include the Director of the Local Data Company (LDC), Matthew Hopkinson; social and economic policy expert, Chris Shellard; Chief Executive of UK Regeneration, Jackie Sadek and Chief Executive of Invapay, Sid Vasilli. Together they will look into planning, local authorities, business rates and access to finance.
Mary Portas defended her pilots by stating that one particular town, Heston has “reduced their vacancy rate from 13% to 4.5% in one year.”
She continued: “Whilst I welcome Bill Grimsey’s input to the fight for the regeneration of the High Street, all his points are covered in my review and it isn’t very helpful to knock the efforts of communities today who are not living under ‘false hope’ but are actually making great changes and fighting for their high street.”
Do you think the Portas Review is enough to save the high street or do you welcome the input of Bill Grimsey?
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