We’re rating cities/towns in the UK to start off with, and all other locales in the future!
This will be done of course per constituent country, and per county:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
2022 Queen’s Jubilee City Status Awards
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61505857
As per the 2002 Golden and 2012 Diamond Queen’s Jubilees, several towns in the UK and British overseas territories have been formally granted city status. With the 2022 Platinum Jubilee, HM Queen Elizabeth II has continued this practice, as various towns in the UK and beyond applied for the distinction as part of the celebrations.
Out of various applicants, the Queen thus granted city status to the following towns:
- Milton Keynes, Colchester, Doncaster (England)
- Wrexham (Wales)
- Dunfermline (Scotland)
- Bangor (Northern Ireland)
- Stanley (Falkland Islands)
Colchester followed its Essex neighbour Chelmsford in attaining city status. Chelmsford was awarded the honour in the 2012 Golden Jubilee, and thus now the East Anglian county has three new cities. The third was Southend-on-Sea, which gained the distinction following the tragic death of Conservative MP, Sir David Amess. Sir David had been campaigning for the honour for his community for many years, and out of acknowledgment of his efforts as an MP, the title was awarded to the seaside locale.
Milton Keynes had applied for city status three times prior but was unsuccessful – this was in the 2000 Millennium celebration, and the 2002 and 2012 Golden/Diamond Jubilees respectively. However, it now can boast city status, to befit its billing as a dynamic, forward-looking and progressive location.
Doncaster in Yorkshire, noted for its close links with Scotland, also attained city status. Yorkshire currently has several cities – Sheffield, York, Wakefield, Bradford, Hull, and Leeds all hold this honour. Doncaster thus joins these locations in attaining this distinct title.
Dunfermline, a birthplace of several of the Queen’s Kings of Scots ancestors, has been elevated to city status, as has Bangor in Northern Ireland.
Stanley, capital of the Falklands Islands in the South Atlantic, also received the accolade. The new city was the site of the last stand of the Argentinian army in the 1982 war, and now has the honorific of city status to match its historical and administrative note.
What does this mean actually?
To be honest, not that much.
City status can be granted to any council authority, irrespective of whether it’s a parish, district, county or unitary authority. It doesn’t infer nor give any additional powers to an authority once granted. Whilst historically, it was used to denote a location with a diocesan cathedral, since the early 20th century it had been utilised to represent a town’s growing prominence, and thus commend and recognise it accordingly. It’s more of an honorific to acknowledge a place of importance, especially in an economic, cultural, scientific or regional context.
Legally, if using Milton Keynes as an example, it’s a unitary body with all of the powers of an English district and county council. But it won’t gain any additional powers, which it cannot anyhow as being a unitary body is the highest form of English local governance. It’s essentially a “nice to have” label to denote a town’s heightened prominence, and would no doubt aid in the promotion of these new cities, and bring new opportunities to them accordingly.
Do you agree with these choices?
Was there a place that was more deserving? Offer your thoughts in the comments.
2022 Queen’s Jubilee celebrations – city status candidates
The candidates for the awarding of City status has been announced, for the forthcoming Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This has followed the awarding of city status to towns on Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees respectively.
As one can see, several large towns throughout the UK, and in British-owned territories around the world, have applied. Reading, Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Gibraltar are amongst the largest candidates, and all are vying for the honorific of city status to be applied to their official titles as local authorities.
Being a city doesn’t infer any new privileges or rights as a local authority. It can be applied to any local authority, from a small parish council, to a large county-wide unitary body. Nor is the appellation only given to places with a cathedral. The convention since the early 20th century was that it would be awarded infrequently, though to towns that had grown in size and character and warranted the awarding of the title to reflect their heightened prominence. The criteria for city status are listed here.
Wolverhampton won the award in the Golden Jubilee – and one can see with its place amongst the largest West Midlands locales, history from the Industrial Revolution, and its size of over 250,000 people, that it is in a good position to attain city status.
Chelmsford, Perth and St. Asaph won the awards in the Diamond Jubilee, reflecting their historical and regional importance.
The awards will be announced later in 2022, though if I were to choose some favourites to win it would be:
- Northampton
Noted for its history, county town status of Northamptonshire, and its growing commercial prominence, Northampton has a defined character that is worthy of city status.
- Milton Keynes
Arguably the most well-known of the post-WWII New Towns, it is home to world-class retail, business, residential, and entertainment locales. It was founded as an enterprising and entrepreneurial space, and the array of items it has to offer shows this.
- Reading
The large Berkshire town has long been established as a prime industrial/commercial location, and has few rivals to this accolade in the South-East of England region.
- Gibraltar
The British-owned territory on the Spanish southern coast has been a place of prime strategic importance to the UK for centuries. It supported British activity in the Mediterranean during WWII, and with its famous rock and tourist spots, it surely has its own character to warrant city status.
Which town do you think is best placed to win City status?
Manchester, England, UK – City centre review
Today, we’re rating one of the great cities of northern England – Manchester.
Noted for its role in the Industrial Revolution and its music and sporting scenes, we rated its city centre, and you can see our findings below.
Attractions
There are many things to appeal to the masses in Manchester city centre.
The Arndale Centre dominates the shopping sphere, with many of the UK and international chain stores.
Manchester has a vibrant LGBT scene, and the Gay Village south of the Arndale centre provides many clubs, bars and related entertainments.
The National Football Museum, as well as the Science and Industry Museum, provide intriguing exhibits accordingly.
Chinatown has been in place since the mid-20th century, and is one of the most vibrant centres of Chinese culture in the UK.
The Manchester Arena, of course the scene of a horrendous bombing at an Ariana Grande concert, has since resumed its status as a prime location for entertainments.
And Chetham’s Library, near the National Football Museum, is the oldest public reference library in the English-speaking world. It dates back to the English Civil War period, and still houses medieval passages in its previous uses as a monastery. Manchester Cathedral dates back to the 15th century, and serves as the main Anglican church for the city and the wider Diocese.
Rating – 9/10
Connections
Manchester city centre has excellent connections, equating with the finest in both Britain and Europe.
The motorway network links directly to the M62 and the Manchester Ring Road. Easy access can be made to the large Lancashire towns (Burnley, Blackburn, Preston, etc.), South Yorkshire, Merseyside, and the Midlands.
Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly rail stations provide superb links to London and Glasgow via the West Coast Main Line, and also Liverpool to the west, and Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, etc. to the east.
The Metrolink tram system connects the city centre with various points around both the wider City of Manchester and Greater Manchester overall.
There also are regular train and bus shuttles to Manchester Airport, around 20 miles to the south of the city centre. Flights to other UK cities, European locations, and beyond, are regularly available from there.
Rating – 10/10
Shopping range
The aforementioned Arndale Centre is the biggest shopping location in the city centre, and Chinatown offers specific attractions.
However, there are numerous other options available. King Street equates with London’s Bond Street in terms of its concentration of designer stores.
The Market House, Manchester Craft & Design Centre, and the Arndale Market, are all markets serving a wide array of tastes.
Rating – 9/10
Decor
Manchester grew to prominence in the 19th century, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, and thus its character and architecture reflects this era. It also suffered severe bombing during the WWII Blitz, leading to a large number of mid to late 20th century structures.
However, the mix afforded is attractive.
Manchester Town Hall is a 19th century building, reflecting the neo-Gothic architecture of the time.
Other points of interest are the John Rylands Library, the late 20th century Beetham Tower, and the ten year old One Angel Square.
Rating – 10/10
Improvements
Several new projects are penned for the city centre.
Victoria North will be a major retail, residential and shopping locale.
Albert Square – the main civic square in the city centre – is also being redeveloped.
Gasworks New Town is another approved development, adding another residential and commercial space accordingly.
Rating – 6/10
OVERALL – 9/10
Manchester city centre has what it takes to rival the very best city centres in the UK, but also perhaps Europe. There is a wide range of activities to suit many tastes, and befits a city of Manchester’s renown.
Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Dublin
In this article, we’re rating the city centre of the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin. Situated on the Irish Sea, the city has a long history, and we were keen to rate it accordingly.
Is it a “capital” city, in its attractions, connections, and appeal?
Let us see shall we:
Attractions 10
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As Ireland’s capital city, it has numerous sights and things to do that appeal to the masses.
The Guinness Storehouse is a must go for all, even those who are not beer drinkers, given the global name that the brand holds.
Dublin Castle was the historical political centre of Ireland, with a mix of mock medieval and later architecture.
Temple Bar is an entertainment and shopping district south of the River Liffey, with restaurants, bars, and street entertainments aplenty.
St. Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals offer medieval designs, and the Book of Kells in Trinity College is always worth a visit.
Connections 9
There are many ways to traverse around Dublin city centre. There are regular shuttle buses to the airport, located 5-10 miles north of the city.
Buses, trains and trams also connect the centre to the suburbs, the port to the east of the city centre, and to locales further away in the Republic. The port itself has links to the Isle of Man, and the United Kingdom via Holyhead and Liverpool.
The Luas tram system connects various points around Dublin city centre, at an affordable rate for tourists and locals alike.
Decor 6
Most of the architecture of Dublin is from the Georgian and Victorian periods and reflects the common styles of the era. There are modern buildings of course, though not much has survived from earlier periods.
In look and feel, it resembles a large British city, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool or Newcastle.
Whilst there are buildings that may strike the fancy of some, such as Dublin Castle, it may not be appealing to all.
Shopping Range 8
Temple Bar offers many independent outlets, selling a wide variety of goods from foreign to spiritual and more.
North of the River Liffey are both the Jervis and Moore Hall Shopping Centres. Both hold the layout of standard shopping malls around the world, and hold numerous UK-based and global chain stores.
South of the River Liffey is the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, which like the Jervis and Moore Hall centres holds similar outlets.
There is enough to satisfy most tastes, and Dublin’s shopping offer ranks amongst most European capital cities.
Improvements 5
As of late 2021, there are several points for improvements.
Several prime streets are earmarked for pedestrianisation.
And a major regeneration project could be in the offing for West Dublin.
There has been some contention from business advocacy groups regarding the pedestrianisation, however they are efforts intended to less pollution and make the city centre more amenable to pedestrians.
overall 7
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
This time, we’re rating the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Founded in the medieval period, it was originally a Northumbrian settlement before being conquered by the Scots.
Today, it houses the Scottish Parliament, Palace of Holyrood, and many other attractions befitting as Scotland’s main city.
How did we rate Scotland’s capital city? Let us see below:
Attractions
Edinburgh ranks amongst the best cities on Earth for attractions.
The Royal Mile is a prominent thoroughfare in the city, forming a principal shopping street with numerous eateries.
The Royal Observatory and College of Art are nearby, and the Queen’s official residence in Scotland – Holyrood Palace – is open to the public for much of the year. Edinburgh Castle is another iconic locale, situated atop a prominent hill in the city centre.
The Fringe Festival, an annual cultural event, also attracts people from around the world, making Edinburgh a chief cultural centre globally.
Edinburgh borders the Firth of Forth, as large estuary on Scotland’s east coast. The Forth Rail Bridge, an iconic steel structure across the estuary is not far from the city. Regular boat tours are conducted for visitors to view it. The Royal Yacht Britannia is also located on a quay at Edinburgh, and was used chiefly by the Queen for foreign visits.
RATING – 10/10
Range of shops
Ocean Terminal, a large shopping centre on the Firth of Forth coast, is the largest shopping locale in the city. Located roughly a mile from the historic centre, it offers a range of chain stores, plus cinemas, bars, eateries, etc.
Princes Street in the New Town however has been long deemed the main shopping street. The mix here is strong, with both chain stores, independent establishments, etc.
Other key locales are George Street, Multrees Walk, Rose Street, Grassmarket, and Duncan Street.
St. James Shopping centre is on Princes Street, along with the noted Jenners department store.
RATING – 10/10
Decor
Edinburgh’s architecture mainly reflects the 18th/19th centuries, as due to the growth of the British Empire at the time, its merchants gained wealth. It also was a home to the Scottish Enlightenment, thus adding to its rise in the period. The Palace
of Holyrood reflects this era, as do many of the buildings on the Royal Mile.
The Scottish Parliament building is comparatively new, and fully espouses contemporary architectural styles.
Overall, the city centre is very elegant, though some may find it too grey.
RATING – 8/10
Connections
Edinburgh has a port terminal bordering the Firth of Forth, with ferry journeys to Europe available.
Edinburgh Waverly station connects to London and other large English cities, as well as Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city roughly 30 miles away to the west.
Whilst all of Edinburgh city centre can be traversed by foot, there are regular buses connecting places.
Edinburgh Airport is outside of the city on the motorway to Glasgow, though has connections to various cities in Europe and globally. There are regular bus shuttles from the city centre to Edinburgh, making travel simple.
RATING – 9/10
Improvements
As a historic city centre, improvements have to be measured carefully as not to undermine the historic character.
However, there has been a plan of late – https://futurescot.com/ambitious-vision-to-transform-edinburgh-city-centre-unveiled/ – to improve transport links accordingly.
Moreover, St. James Shopping Quarter also opened in 2021 – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-57585973 – adding another attraction amongst many to the city.
RATING – 6/10
OVERALL – 8/10
Edinburgh’s city centre is befitting for its status as Scotland’s capital city.
There is a wide assortment of things to do and experience, which can suit all different kinds of people.
Edinburgh is recommended for all to visit.
What our rating categories mean
You may have seen us use several categories to rate city centres.
This is based on the criteria we deem effective for a viable city centre.
A city centre as a central hub, in our view at the least, should have key points to attract, serve, and entertain people.
The best city centres of all places have these qualities in abundance.
So let’s look at the categories, to see our rationale here:
Attractions – People visit city centres in part for the sights and sounds. This include historical places, museums, galleries, cinemas, shopping districts, palaces, etc. A good city centre should have attractions, if only for jobs and to provide a sense of identity.
Decor – The layout and appearance of buildings is also a charming point. It not only adds character, but also boosts the appeal of a city centre. Examples are Paris, London, and New York, as they all contain key architecture from the medieval (in Paris and London’s cases) through to early modern and modern periods. The basic fact the Empire State Building or the Palace of Westminster exist as they do adds to the allure of NYC and London respectively.
Connections – This has been called Accessibility, though this can be confused with access for the disabled. This section means how easy is a city centre to reach, or travel within. This is important, as to attract business or tourists, it must be easy to get to and traverse around. Prime rail, road, air, tram, underground railway/mass transit links therefore are important here.
Range of shops – City centres have been for millennia places of commerce. And as large places, the range of shops should have thing to appeal to many, or things that are novel, esoteric and provide character. This doesn’t have to be standard shopping centres, but market halls, street markets, etc.
Improvements – Nothing is perfect and everything can be improved. So even the best centres can be enhanced to provide additional benefits. This can be to serve people better, or add onto existing strong points. In short, it can mean better shopping, travel connections, attractions, etc.
Article review – 10 things that make a city centre perfect
We found this article lately – https://uxdesign.cc/10-things-that-make-a-city-center-perfect-2c9204570c13 – and wished to add our points in it.
This article was written by Ms. Laura Puttkamer, an urban planner based in Mexico. She has identified ten points in this regard, relative to the strengths of city centres.
Her points are below:
- It is pedestrian-friendly.
- It has mixed-use (shops, restaurants, public buildings, public spaces, apartments and cultural institutions).
- It offers a source of identity.
- It has green and blue space.
- It has cafes and restaurants where you can sit to watch life go by.
- It is colorful.
- It is accessible to everyone and has a friendly vibe.
- It is clean.
- It offers art and culture.
- It has side streets that you can explore.
These are all interesting points, and similar to the criteria that we utilise.
I would agree that a strong city centre should be pedestrian-friendly. It should provide access for walkers, amidst vehicular traffic and cyclists.
Mixed-use is pertinent too – as the literal centre of a community, a city centre should hold multiple attractions.
Identity is intriguing, and I can agree in this regard. If a city is noted for a given industry, historical event, noted figure, or product, then it should reflect this in its scope and character.
Green space is important – IMHO it links to the variety of attractions afforded.
Colourfulness – A good city centre should have a distinctive character, I agree.
Cafes/restaurants – I can see the attraction in terms of chilling out and soaking in the atmosphere of the locale.
Accessibility to all and friendliness are also prominent – I believe a good city centre should have things that appeal to many.
Cleanliness – yes, this is significant, as not only is it important for hygenic reasons, but also for the image of the city.
It offers art and culture – This goes without saying. A city centre must be the cultural centre of a city.
Side streets – I see where the writer is coming from. Streets of different character are interesting to explore and look around.
So I agree with the points listed here.
The best city centres do all share these points and facets, and overall they’re well stated.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree?
City centre review – Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
This time, we’ll be reviewing the county seat of Norfolk – Norwich.
A city with a great history and culture behind it, Norwich stands as the largest place in Norfolk, and amongst the biggest in the East of England. Within ready reach of the North Sea coast, it provides access to Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, Cromer, and other prime resorts on the Norfolk coast.
How did Norwich fare? Let’s find out below:
ATTRACTIONS – 10/10
Norwich is noted for its famous attractions, such as the medieval cathedral, River Wensum walks, and cobbled shopping streets, such as Elm Street.
The market also has numerous items for sale, and the Castle dates back to Norman times.
Chantry Place and the Castle Quarter provide top shopping areas, and Norwich city centre holds a general mix between the historical and contemporary, and elegant and functional.
ACCESS – 7/10
Norwich is well-connected with the National Rail network. There are regular connections to London, and large cities in the Midlands such as Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham.
There are no motorways close to the city, though there are extensive road links to Ipswich, Peterborough, Cambridge and beyond.
The city centre itself has thorough buses, and it stands up well overall compared to similar locales in the UK.
Norwich bus station, built in the early 2000s, has routes around the city, Norfolk, and spanning to Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and beyond.
SHOPPING RANGE – 9/10
As aforementioned, Norwich holds two prominent shopping centres, Castle Quarter and Charity Place.
Both hold the standard range of national and global chain stores, amidst a clean and secure environment.
Elm Street also is a cobbled street in the city centre, with predominantly Tudor-era housing, holding a variety of independent boutiques.
As with the city centre in general, it provides a broad mix to suit various tastes and desires.
DECOR – 10/10
Norwich Cathedral, dating back to the high medieval period is an evident facet of the city centre’s stunning decor.
The aforementioned Elm Hill is another.
But there are other gems in this capacity.
The Castle was built by William the Conqueror and has been a museum for over one hundred years.
The Cathedral and Castle, amongst ten other sites, form part of the Norwich 12, which are all locales of historical importance marketed collectively for tourist and academic purposes.
The city’s décor is stellar. Ranging from the medieval cathedral through to contemporary structures.
OVERALL – 8/10
Norwich melds its history well with modern attractions and sights, and stands still as a beacon of the East of England.
IMPROVEMENTS – 5/10
Given Norwich’s age and the associated buildings of historical importance, future developments are often balanced amidst the need for preservation and conservation.
The Canary Quay scheme is nearing completion, with new housing near Norwich City’s Carrow Road stadium.
Norwich City Council also has plans for the development of the city centre.
OVERALL – 8/10
As a place of great historical importance, Norwich city centre is full to the brim of places of interest.
The connections to other locales are adequate for a city of its size, and the shopping and entertainments rival the best in the East of England region.
Seemingly, Norwich is a great place to visit, socialise, shop, and frequent, and stands a beacon in this regard in the East of England.
Luton – centre rater – city centre review
Luton is a large town in Bedfordshire, noted for its Vauxhall vehicle-making plant, London Luton Airport, its broad ethnic mix, and Championship-based football club Luton Town. It is the biggest town in both Bedfordshire and the East of England, though in recent times its reputation has been maligned somewhat. This is in part due to the formation of the English Defence League (EDL) by Tommy Robinson (who was raised in Luton), and perhaps more so to the town’s run-down and dilapidated image. It has been rated for some time as the “Crappiest Town in England”.
How do we view Luton? Are the common complaints of the town fair?
As normal, we’ll rate its town centre based on:
- Attractions
- Accessibility
- Decor
- Range of shops
- Improvements
So without further ado, let’s look at Luton’s town centre, shall we.
Attractions – 4/10
There isn’t that much for tourists or visitors to see in the town centre, at least in terms of major historical sites. However, St. Mary’s Church near the University of Bedfordshire campus, has roots going back to the high medieval period. The University campus itself is the prime locale of the institution, with other campuses in Bedford and Milton Keynes. The Mall Luton, formally the Arndale Centre, has many of the British/global chain stores, and the Hat Factory near the train station hosts numerous cultural events.
There are no museums as such in the town centre, though Wardown Park (roughly a mile north of the town centre) houses the primary museum for Luton. There also is a museum/car collection at Stockwood Park, on the southern outskirts of the town.
The Galaxy Centre was built in the late 1990s, and houses a multi-screen cinema, a gym, kids’ playing areas, and a Nando’s restaurant. Moreover, the Hat Factory near the train station is a cultural hub of the town, hosting numerous events from jazz to dance.
Range of shops – 5/10
The Mall Luton was expanded about 10 years ago, with TXMaxx, Wilkinson, Costa Coffee and eateries added. The range of shops in The Mall is varied, though not much beyond standard chain stores. The main shopping street – the pedestrianised George Street – has some chief chain stores on it, but is a mix of low-end shops and frankly ruined/dilapidated buildings. It therefore may not appeal to the wider tastes of many.
Overall, more could be done to add more variety to the town centre’s shopping capacities. The Mall is fine as a standalone shopping centre, though it doesn’t hold much in honesty to other large local shopping centres, such as Atria Watford, Atria MK, and the Centre MK.
Decor – 3/10
Luton town centre has primarily Brutalist architecture (most prominent perhaps in The Mall Luton), though there are many late 20th/early 21st century builds.
Perhaps the most striking buildings are St. Mary’s Church and the Town Hall. The latter was built in the 1930s, and fully reflects the Art Deco designs of the period. The old ABC cinema on George St. also is quite elegant, though having closed in the late 1990s has not been occupied or utilised. It thus has become run down and shabby, and would it take effort to restore it accordingly.
Accessibility – 9/10
The main train station is 5-10 minutes walk from The Mall Luton, and connects with London via East Midlands Railway to St. Pancras. The Thameslink network also connects to St. Pancras and beyond, such as Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. East Midlands trains also connect with Leicester, Derby, and Sheffield to the north. Luton Airport Parkway station is within walking distance of the town centre, though a bus or taxi is more convenient. It was constructed in the late 1990s specifically for London Luton Airport. A new train shuttle with the terminal will open in 2022, lessening the current travel time between the station.
All points within the town centre are accessible via foot, and the local Arriva bus services from the town centre reach all parts of the wider town and beyond.
Improvements – 8/10
Championship club Luton Town has had planning permission approved for its new stadium. This will be in Power Court, a disused former industrial park to the town centre’s east. The new stadium will be 23,000 in capacity, with adjacent shopping, entertainment, retail, and conference facilities.
When completed, it would radically change the appeal of Luton town centre, and provide the football club with a platform perhaps to resume top flight football for the first time since its relegation from the old First Division in 1992.
The Mall Luton owners, C&R, have also released plans for Neighbourhood Kitchens and e-scooter ranks within its empty units.
OVERALL – 5/10
Luton town centre may not stand up to that of other large towns locally, such as Milton Keynes, Stevenage, Watford, or Bedford. But there are some significant improvements in the pipeline, which could greatly enhance the profile and amenities accordingly.
Budget 2018 – City centre effects
The 2018 Budget was delivered on Monday, and there was an interesting point pertaining to city centres, or high streets to be exact.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/29/hammond-sets-out-15bn-high-street-regeneration-plan
Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond announced a fund for high street regeneration, including means for new businesses, homes, and upkeep of local historical buildings.
The government acknowledge that online shopping and changing buying habits are changing the appearance and usage of our high streets.
However, the British Retail Consortium has critiqued the plans, citing it will only help small businesses and not large ones.
Both the state and the British Retail Consortium make valid points. Larger retailers won’t get access to this funding -or it would be economically and politically difficult to justify why they should receive it. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Superdry, etc. are all globally-based firms, and it’s a stretch to say they need funding.
Part of the issue with UK high street is not just a lack of shops, but a lack of character, and especially in smaller towns and cities. Large towns/cities would not experience this to the same extent but have the people and scope to house many retail options.
This article from 2013 may be old, but still is pertinent, and in a way, the state should be commended for this plan. It’s a response to an evident need. As a small town, Orpington in Kent has been muscled out by out of town retail and online shopping, and as a small community, it cannot cope.
And our town/city centres are the centres for a reason. They’re the places to meet, shop, eat, and witness, experience, and share culture of various sorts. It’s been this way, in many countries and regions, for many centuries if not millennia.
This article provides an intriguing spin on this – since it is ultimately a change in how people consume goods and services. It’s a shift in how we don’t just live, but also shop and how firms distribute items. Smaller towns and cities have been the victims in this case, but then this initiative by the government (whilst not perfect) is some means to rectify the situation.
Centre rater.... 