Mary Portas has today published her review of the future of our High Streets, setting out her vision to rebuild them as social hubs. The 'Queen of Shops' makes ambitious recommendations on what can be done – by government, local councils and businesses – to help High Streets deliver something new.

The focus is on putting the heart back into the centre of our towns, re-imagined as exciting social hubs for shopping, learning socialising and having fun.

In May, with town centre vacancy rates doubling in the space of two years, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister asked Mary to look into how to create more prosperous and diverse High Streets. The review sets out Mary’s recommendations to free up the High Street from constraint, to level the playing field, to mobilise landlords and communities, and to address the ongoing management of our town centres.

Portas says: “I don’t want to live in a Britain that doesn’t care about community. And I believe that our High Streets are a really important part of pulling people together in a way that a supermarket or shopping mall, however convenient, however entertaining and however slick, just never can.

“Our High Streets can be lively, dynamic, exciting and social places that give a sense of belonging and trust to a community. Something which, as the recent riots clearly demonstrated, has been eroded and in some instances eradicated. I fundamentally believe that once we invest in and create social capital in the heart of our communities, the economic capital will follow.

“Those who see High Streets purely in commercial terms need a reality check, because, without the engagement and collaboration of local people many High Streets will die and retailers, landlords and local authorities alike will see their investment wasted."

The Portas Review is available at http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/retail/high-street-review.

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