NALC calls for parish and town councils to be given the tools to transform high streets
We have urged the government to place parish and town councils at the heart of high street regeneration, arguing that councils are already delivering measurable improvements to town centres and community pride where they have the powers, funding and flexibility to act.
In our submission to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into revitalising high streets, we highlighted the important role parish and town councils play in supporting local economic development, increasing footfall and improving public spaces. We called for greater recognition of councils as strategic partners in future regeneration programmes.
We argue that parish and town councillors should be eligible to chair Pride in Place boards in parished areas where local boards choose to appoint them. We believe that councillors' democratic mandate, local knowledge and close connection to their communities make them well placed to help direct investment where it can deliver the greatest local benefit.
Our response also calls on the government to allocate an appropriate share of National Non-Domestic Rates revenues to parish and town councils. Locally retained funding would provide a sustainable source of investment for high street improvement, regeneration and economic development projects.
Highlighting the challenges facing town centres, we warned that excessive clustering of similar businesses, such as betting shops, vape shops and other service outlets, can undermine the attractiveness and distinctiveness of high streets. While occupied premises are preferable to vacant units, concentrations of similar businesses can discourage investment and weaken community pride. Parish and town councils should have a stronger role in shaping the mix of uses on their high streets through neighbourhood planning, design codes and local regeneration strategies.
Our response showcases a number of examples where parish and town councils have successfully revitalised town centres. These include markets, festivals, public realm improvements, wayfinding schemes, accessibility projects and business support initiatives that have increased footfall, strengthened local economies and improved residents' sense of belonging.
We also emphasised the importance of well-designed public realm improvements, including seating, planting, lighting, pedestrianisation and design codes developed through neighbourhood plans. We stated that such measures are most effective when they are shaped by local communities and delivered as part of a long-term vision for the future of the high street.
While welcoming recent government initiatives aimed at supporting high streets, we said further action is needed to address persistent barriers to regeneration, including fragmented property ownership, underinvestment, vacant buildings, changing retail habits and limited local government resources. We called for the extension of the General Power of Competence to all parish and town councils and continued support for neighbourhood planning and locally led masterplanning.
Our response concludes that long-term success depends on sustained local leadership rather than short-term funding programmes. We are calling on the government to provide parish and town councils with the powers, resources and funding needed to play a full role in shaping, managing and revitalising high streets for the benefit of their communities.
