Last year, I posted about government proposals to make some key measures to boost local High Streets, introduced during the pandemic, permanent. It’s great news that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has now confirmed that it will be taking these measures forward.
This means that High Streets will permanently benefit from extra flexibility over the use of outdoor space – allowing, for example, the use of marquees or additional seating in the grounds of pubs, cafes and restaurants. It also means that street markets can operate all year round.
More outdoor retail may not seem appealing in winter temperatures, but come summer, this change will bring a vibrancy to our High Streets and make a real difference to small businesses.