Struggling High Streets fuel sense of neglect for voters ahead of local elections

Communities Secretary Steve Reed argues that fixing High Streets is critical to showing politics is working, describing issues such as boarded-up shops, fly tipping, graffiti, and visible loss in local areas.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski launches a three-step plan to revive High Streets, including affordable leases for local businesses, powers to bring long-term empty shops back into use, and citizens' assemblies.

More in Common notes Reform UK would abolish business rates for pubs, with additional policies to be announced in due course.

The Liberal Democrats call for a temporary VAT cut for pubs, cafes and local attractions and propose measures to reduce energy bills for business, encourage homes above shops, improve public transport, review parking charges, and fund pedestrianisation projects.

The Conservatives pledge to level up through central funding and pursue tax cuts, including plans to scrap business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure up to £110,000 per year, plus proposals to cut electricity bills for businesses and to hire 10,000 police officers.

The article notes forthcoming elections for English councils in May 2026.

The government announces a £301m funding pot to revitalise High Streets and a £5.8bn Pride in Place scheme, along with powers for councils to limit bookmakers, repurpose empty shops, and strengthen trading standards.

On a sunny midweek morning in Walsall town centre, crowds shop but several stalls are gone; residents describe the high street as run-down, citing deprivation, a lack of jobs, high rents, and parking charges as barriers, while expressing pride in the town paired with frustration at its decline.

More in Common published polling indicating that people judge their local area by the state of the High Street, viewing signs of neglect as symptoms of wider decline and a source of public discontent.

Centre for Cities reports that High Street performance correlates with local economic health, noting vacancy rates of about 1 in 12 in London and Cambridge and close to 1 in 5 in Bradford.