High Streets UK launches plan to bring optimism back to our flagship high streets

Representatives of Britain’s flagship high streets launch their four asks of Government today at Labour Party Conference

Across the country, flagship high streets face a wide range of challenges – from the rise of retail crime and anti-social behaviour to a counterproductive business rates system and a lack of support for the tourist economy. Today (28 September 2026), High Streets UK has set out a four-point plan to create a new sense of optimism for the nation’s flagship high streets.

The Government has clearly identified bringing a new sense of optimism to the UK’s high streets as a vehicle to drive both national and local growth, and flagship destinations are perfectly placed to rise to the occasion. But they cannot do it alone: High Streets UK is calling on Government to act in four areas where national policy is holding local investment back.

High Streets UK’s four policy asks:

The Treasury must comprehensively reform the business rates system so that it is progressive, rewards investment, and supports the anchor stores that drive footfall to flagship high streets.
Police forces, guided by the Home Office, should work with high street businesses and their Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to strengthen visible policing and tackle the organised crime and anti-social behaviour that undermine confidence in city centres.
Overnight Visitor Levies must be proportionate, simple for operators, introduced only with the meaningful involvement of local tourism sectors, and have their receipts ring-fenced for local benefit.
High Streets UK members support the return of tax-free shopping, or an alternative that serves the same goal of making the UK’s flagship high streets more internationally competitive.

Read the full plan

Representing over 5,000 businesses across England, Scotland and Wales, High Streets UK is a pro-growth, nationwide partnership of business representatives which aims to tackle the most pressing issues facing the UK’s flagship high streets and unlock local and national growth. Members of High Streets UK include leading Business Improvement Districts from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, and Newcastle.

“

Speaking at Labour Party Conference today, Chair of High Streets UK Dee Corsi said:

"Flagship high streets are not places that need protecting from decline – they are engines of national growth, major employers and the destinations that shape how the world sees Britain. Our members are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in these places, but that investment is being held back. From business rates that penalise investment, to a lack of co-ordinated action on crime, and a visitor economy offer that is slipping behind our European competitors, there is a clear opportunity for Government to unlock growth. Our recent Open for Growth campaign in the West End has shown the importance of creating the right conditions for flagship destinations to invest, grow and compete internationally. This four-point plan takes that same ambition to the national level, setting out practical measures to support investment and unlock growth across the country’s high streets. High Streets UK stands ready to work with Government to deliver it."