Creating a new sense of optimism for the nation’s flagship high streets.

Together, we aim to tackle the most pressing issues facing UK high streets and unlock local and national growth.

High Streets UK is a pro-growth, nationwide partnership of business representatives which aims to tackle the most pressing issues facing the UK’s flagship high streets and unlock local and national growth.

Across the country, high streets face a wide range of challenges – from the rise of retail crime and anti-social behaviour to a counterproductive business rates system and a lack of support for the tourist economy.

At the same time, the Government has clearly identified bringing a new sense of optimism to the UK’s high streets as a vehicle to drive both national and local growth.

Through quarterly summits and monthly Working Groups, High Streets UK elevates shared priorities to the national conversation while sharing learnings, ideas and solutions to ensure flagship high streets across the UK thrive for years to come.

Members of High Streets UK include leading Business Improvement Districts from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, London and Newcastle.

5,000+

businesses represented by High Streets UK

578m

annual unique visitors to High Streets UK locations (Huq mobility data)

£50b

in GVA contributed by High Streets UK member locations

Our Key Action Areas

Revitalising High Streets

The Treasury must comprehensively reform the business rates system so that it is progressive, rewards investment, and supports the anchor stores which drive so much footfall to our flagship high streets.

Crime and Public Safety

Police forces across the nation, guided by the Home Office, should work with high street businesses and their representative BIDs to strengthen visible policing and tackle the organised crime and anti-social behaviour that undermine confidence in city centres.

Tourism

High Streets UK calls for proportionate, easy-to-administer Overnight Visitor Levies, developed with meaningful input from local tourism sectors and with revenues ring-fenced for their benefit, alongside the return of VAT-free shopping or an equivalent measure to boost the international competitiveness of the UK’s flagship high streets.

Our Members Say

Bill Addy

Chief Executive, Liverpool BID Company

Our high streets have become much more than retail hubs, they are places where our communities meet, gather, play, shop, eat and explore. A true mixed use high street offers a perfect vehicle to drive national and local growth.

Business Improvement Districts across the larger cities represent the UK’s flagship high streets, who are facing similar challenges and opportunities. Together, through High Streets UK we have the opportunity to add our collective voice of over 5,000 UK businesses to support targeted policy change that will help our high streets rise to the occasion.

Dee Corsi

Chief Executive, New West End Company

We know that thriving, flagship high streets can be powerful drivers of economic growth and employment, with the positive halo effects felt across the country. I look forward to working with colleagues across the country to develop new ideas and solutions that will secure the future success of our nation’s flagship high streets and the economic, social, and cultural impact they have.

Roddy Smith

Chief Executive, Essential Edinburgh

We are delighted to be proud members of High Streets UK – driving policy and programme recommendations to help shape the future direction of our high street. Economic growth is key to our future success, and together High Streets UK will influence politicians and policy makers across the UK.