IPM Brings Sector Together to Shape New High Streets Strategy
With the Government expected to publish a new High Streets Strategy later this year, the Institute of Place Management has collaborated with the High Street Consultancy to convene two roundtable discussions bringing together practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and sector organisations from across the UK.
Chaired by IPM Head Ian Harvey, the sessions were designed to capture early insight and ensure that those working directly with high streets can help shape the emerging national agenda.
Participants included representatives from Historic England, British BIDs, Save the High Street, ICON, Power to Change, the Association of Town and City Management, alongside officials from MHCLG and the Department for Business and Trade, as well as members of the IPM network.
A clear message emerged: the sector holds significant expertise and is ready to contribute - but this knowledge is often fragmented. The new strategy presents an opportunity to better connect learning, practice, and delivery.
Key messages from the session included:
- Build on what works - Previous initiatives - including the Portas Review, Timpson Review of High Streets, Grimsey Reviews, and the High Streets Task Force - provide a strong evidence base. The focus now should be on implementation and scaling proven approaches.
- Partnerships are critical for place success - Successful places are underpinned by collaboration between councils, businesses, and communities. However, capacity varies, and national policy should better support local partnerships.
- Support adaptation and evolve beyond retail As the House of Lords Report in 2025 said, high streets are changing. Policy should enable experimentation, new uses, and long-term adaptation rather than trying to restore past models.
- High streets are civic spaces Town centres are no longer just about retail. They are multi-functional places supporting health, culture, community activity, services, and housing.
- Communities are key partners Community organisations, community businesses and social enterprises are increasingly important in activating spaces and supporting local identity, and should be recognised as core delivery partners as championed by Power to Change
- Safety drives confidence Perceptions of safety are fundamental to footfall, business confidence, and overall place experience and partnerships with Business Crime Reduction Partnerships are key
What next
These roundtables mark the start of a wider programme of engagement led by IPM. Further discussions will take place over the coming months to ensure that sector insight informs the development of the Government’s High Streets Strategy.
To get involved, contact ipm@mmu.ac.uk.
About the author
Formed in 2006, the Institute of Place Management is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better.