Press & Policy

More than 2,000 readers of the Sunday Post, The Courier and the P&J have shared their views on Scotland’s high streets in a new survey. 

Key national findings include: 

• 40% of people said they visit their town/city centre less than they did a year ago
• Three quarters (74%) don’t think their town/city centre is doing well. 34% think it is struggling. 40% think that it’s in decline.
• 91% think vacant units are more noticeable compared to a year ago.

Responding to the findings, SCC Chief Executive Charandeep Singh BEM said:

“These are stark, but not surprising results. Businesses continue to tell us that weaker footfall and changing consumer habits are dialling up the pressure. At the same time, the cost of doing business remains stubbornly high. Retail businesses responding to our latest survey showed significant levels of concern over labour costs and energy bills, at 73% and 67% respectively. Against that backdrop, investment in the sector has remained weak.

“Vacant units only make those challenges harder for businesses across our high streets. They make places less attractive to visit, reduce footfall for the businesses that remain and risk creating a cycle of decline which becomes increasingly difficult to reverse.

“There is no overnight solution to the challenges facing our high streets. Turning things around will require action from Government on areas like Non-Domestic Rates, skills shortages, affordable housing and investment. But there are immediate steps the Scottish Government should take to reduce the burden on businesses willing to take a chance on an empty unit.

“Expanding Fresh Start relief, as championed by The Sunday Post and its sister titles, could have a real and immediate impact.

“Removing the vacancy requirement for retail and hospitality premises would give businesses a much stronger incentive to take on empty units, invest in our high streets and bring buildings back into productive use.

“More occupied premises means more businesses, more jobs and, crucially, more reasons for people to visit and spend time in our town and city centres.

“The Scottish Government should use the upcoming Programme for Government to remove the six-month vacancy requirement and make it easier for new businesses to bring empty units back into use. If we want to reverse the decline highlighted by this survey, we should start by making our high streets easier – not harder – places to invest.”