How to save the high street

Many city centre high streets are becoming derelict. Shops are closing down as more people chose to use indoor shopping centres.

It seems that most generation projects are centred around bringing in local traders, small independent shops, butchers, bakers etc. In a way, the regeneration of the city centres seems to be going back to how things used to be before the introduction of big stores. I like the idea, but I don't think enough is being done quickly enough.

Of cause there's the issue of councils ripping people off for parking fees!

What's people's thoughts on the subject?

I watched the Mary Portas promotion film on BBC Breakfast this morning.

There are many things that are going on, but one thing I thought off this morning is the following:

If we look at brand new/rapidly changing cities, how do they develop? So I thought back to my visit of China and realised the following:

The traditional high-street is no longer a shopping area for the big retailers. Instead it should become an area consisting of smaller specialised zones - market(S), open air food market with stalls selling all sorts all the time, posher restaurants, indoor malls, bars and clubs, other nightlife (cinema and theatre).

In fact, Sheffield is already on its way to getting into this sort of profile, but desperately clinging on to the notion of Sheffield as a Shopping destination is going to be the undoing.

Regarding parking: parking garages cost money, someone has to pay - should it be the punters or the stores? If Atkinsons gave a refund on your parking (like M&S do at Ecclesall Rd) they would rake in the custom, but of course they sold the parking lot to a firm.

Many city centre high streets are becoming derelict. Shops are closing down as more people chose to use indoor shopping centres.

 

It seems that most generation projects are centred around bringing in local traders, small independent shops, butchers, bakers etc. In a way, the regeneration of the city centres seems to be going back to how things used to be before the introduction of big stores. I like the idea, but I don't think enough is being done quickly enough.

 

Of cause there's the issue of councils ripping people off for parking fees!

 

What's people's thoughts on the subject?

My thought is why go into town when all you need is on the outskirts, food shopping, clothes, petrol, free parking, cinemas, restaurants, RIP town. so sad but it's true.

I watched the Mary Portas promotion film on BBC Breakfast this morning.

 

There are many things that are going on, but one thing I thought off this morning is the following:

 

If we look at brand new/rapidly changing cities, how do they develop? So I thought back to my visit of China and realised the following:

 

The traditional high-street is no longer a shopping area for the big retailers. Instead it should become an area consisting of smaller specialised zones - market(S), open air food market with stalls selling all sorts all the time, posher restaurants, indoor malls, bars and clubs, other nightlife (cinema and theatre).

 

In fact, Sheffield is already on its way to getting into this sort of profile, but desperately clinging on to the notion of Sheffield as a Shopping destination is going to be the undoing.

 

Regarding parking: parking garages cost money, someone has to pay - should it be the punters or the stores? If Atkinsons gave a refund on your parking (like M&S do at Ecclesall Rd) they would rake in the custom, but of course they sold the parking lot to a firm.

If we are looking at China I think it is worth commenting on Hong Kong.

The main thoroughfare, Nathan Street has many expensive shops located on it but at the bottom is the Temple Street night market This open market sells a very wide range of goods and houses places to eat . Prices are reasonable and bartering is expected. It all combines to provide a pleasant shopping experience.

Regarding Atkinsons car park, we have found it the cheapest in town.

Well...I'm not 'native' to Sheffield, but I've been here for around 8 years now. How many times have I been into Sheffield City centre to do anything? Three times....That's it. Just three times. I avoid it like the plague.

Why?

Because it's a nightmare to navigate the road system, and a nightmare to park, so I simply don't bother. For me, that's the cause and the answer.

If I go to Meadowhall, I can park easily, and easily navigate the road system. If I go to Barnsley, I can park easily (and for free), and navigate that road system. Same with Rotherham, same with Doncaster. If a place isn't car friendly, people won't go!

Ok, that's only my personal opinion, but I can't be the only one!

I echo everything PeteMorris said (apart from the not being native bit).

I think the roads in Sheffield city centre aren't actually that bad. It used to be as lot worse. Once you've got the ring road in your head, the rest is pretty simple.

Many city centre high streets are becoming derelict. Shops are closing down as more people chose to use indoor shopping centres.

 

It seems that most generation projects are centred around bringing in local traders, small independent shops, butchers, bakers etc. In a way, the regeneration of the city centres seems to be going back to how things used to be before the introduction of big stores. I like the idea, but I don't think enough is being done quickly enough.

 

Of cause there's the issue of councils ripping people off for parking fees!

 

What's people's thoughts on the subject?

the high st will be dead within 10 years, the internet has killed it off and there is no going back, independents cannot survive indefinitely, the big stores and big brands will always survive as they have the sheep herding customer mentality for ever cheaper prices.

landlord expect unrealistic rents and councils unrealistic rates, i have had a high st business for over 10 years never again i am lucky to have sold out before the inevitable.

parking charges are only a small problem, in places like sheffield its the access and the lack of spending on the basics.

the high st will be dead within 10 years, the internet has killed it off and there is no going back, independents cannot survive indefinitely, the big stores and big brands will always survive as they have the sheep herding customer mentality for ever cheaper prices.

landlord expect unrealistic rents and councils unrealistic rates, i have had a high st business for over 10 years never again i am lucky to have sold out before the inevitable.

parking charges are only a small problem, in places like sheffield its the access and the lack of spending on the basics.

Sheffield city centre is still doing OK though. So are places like Chesterfield, Liverpool and London has always been a busy city.

I don't think it will totally die out, it just needs to change. Stores that are unique, not just your usual high-street rubbish. Shops that cater for students and young professionals are the way forward. Time to let the next generation take control.

Sheffield city centre is still doing OK though. So are places like Chesterfield, Liverpool and London has always been a busy city.

 

I don't think it will totally die out, it just needs to change. Stores that are unique, not just your usual high-street rubbish. Shops that cater for students and young professionals are the way forward. Time to let the next generation take control.

sorry Sheffield is doing anything but ok, i have friends who have businesses and they are struggling, it may look busy sometimes but people are just not spending, they may be trying on to see the size and fit and then going online and getting it cheaper.

independents cannot afford the rents and rates on places like fargate, which is rated on footfall, a store the size of starbucks is 120k plus rent pa and the rates are something like 80k.

the only way i can see for the high st is to allow as someone said earlier in the thread the quality market style stalls of nathan road in the Kowloon area of hong kong mixed in with the big brand names. NOT like the pathetic sheffield market, full of the same tat and majority poor food offerings. will sheffield people pay the prices so someone can survive no!

sorry Sheffield is doing anything but ok, i have friends who have businesses and they are struggling, it may look busy sometimes but people are just not spending, they may be trying on to see the size and fit and then going online and getting it cheaper.

independents cannot afford the rents and rates on places like fargate, which is rated on footfall, a store the size of starbucks is 120k plus rent pa and the rates are something like 80k.

the only way i can see for the high st is to allow as someone said earlier in the thread the quality market style stalls of nathan road in the Kowloon area of hong kong mixed in with the big brand names. NOT like the pathetic sheffield market, full of the same tat and majority poor food offerings. will sheffield people pay the prices so someone can survive no!

If you look at places like West Street and Division Street, they have no big high street names. Big brands belong in shopping malls, the highstreet doesn't want them any more. Students are the main target market now. Many students believe in ethics and will gladly buy from smaller, unique places, even if the price is slightly higher.

At the moment the high street is full of shops that are run by out of touch and out of date old people that are only interested in £££'s. They're being left behind, and rightly so.

If you look at places like West Street and Division Street, they have no big high street names. Big brands belong in shopping malls, the highstreet doesn't want them any more. Students are the main target market now. Many students believe in ethics and will gladly buy from smaller, unique places, even if the price is slightly higher.

 

At the moment the high street is full of shops that are run by out of touch and out of date old people that are only interested in £££'s. They're being left behind, and rightly so.

west st is predominately bars or restaurants which cater for the students and even then it still has to be cheap, i would guess most are running at break even at best, Divison st has a few good independents but that hardly makes it a go to destination, if you look at Leeds in the victorian arcades its full of independents mixed in with the brands and its busy.

we had a unit on Divison st at one point and it struggled to break even price leading over quality unfortunately. the only students i know and we used to get that had plenty of money were the Chinese ones and great customers they were too, polite , didnt moan about cost and didnt mind spending.

as i said before it is only big corps and brands that can afford the prime retail not only in the rent and rates but the staffing also, a business needs ££££ profit to survive not ethics.