{
  "id": 19843109,
  "title": "Rip out ugly clutter to help revive UK high streets, says thinktank",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/rip-out-ugly-clutter-to-help-revive-uk-high-streets-says-thinktank",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T17:05:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/13/rip-out-clutter-to-retail-revive-high-streets-thinktank"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent report by urban thinktank Create Streets suggests that revitalizing UK high streets doesn't necessarily require expensive revamps. Instead, smaller changes aimed at making town and city centers more appealing could be a more cost-effective solution. One key factor identified is reducing car traffic, as urban spaces are often designed for driving rather than spending time in them. Planning regulations that promote conformity and clutter, treating speeding cars as inevitable, also contribute to the problem.\n\nThe report argues that replacing parking spaces with alternative kerbside infrastructure, such as bike storage areas or outdoor dining spaces, can generate more economic value. For instance, a single parking space in a market town used by about 3.5 vehicles a day generates around £73,000 annually in spending for nearby shops. However, converting the same 12 square meters into nine share e-bike spaces leads to an average of 13 trips per day, resulting in over £146,000 in annual spending.\n\nRepurposing street space for outside dining also provides a decent return, with city centers seeing approximately £120,000 in extra annual spending. The report advocates for a cultural shift, focusing on low-cost tweaks that eliminate unnecessary street furniture and optimize kerb space. Removing pedestrian guardrails, which are costly and offer minimal safety benefits, is recommended as a cost-effective upgrade.\n\nThe report criticizes policies like \"Secured by Design,\" which can lead to the removal of benches and plants based on police advice, ostensibly to deter antisocial behavior. Meanwhile, the UK government has pledged £210 million to regenerate high streets, but the majority of funds will be directed towards building renovations, such as converting old shops into shared workspaces or community cafes. The report emphasizes that improving the outside appearance of a street is crucial, advocating for a \"presumption of removal\" where items lack justification.\n\nExamples of successful initiatives include Altrincham in Cheshire, where creating a car-free urban area resulted in retail vacancies dropping from over 30% to 7% in less than a decade. The report stresses that making streets unappealing isn't due to councils' lack of desire, but rather because the system prioritizes maintenance costs over benefits. It encourages the use of permanent, affordable improvements like trees, well-designed benches, and removal of clutter.",
  "summary": "Exclusive: Report says restricting cars and freeing up pavement space could be a cheap way to entice shoppers The long decline of the high street is a problem that has gripped British governments for years. But what if there was a solution no one had considered before – doing it all on the cheap? Spending less money is, admittedly, just one element of a report led by the urban thinktank Create…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}