UK high street due a makeover

The British high street is due a makeover, according to Labour leader Ed Milliband. As part of his local election campaign, the party leader has pledged to create "powers so that local people can decide, through their councils, what shops can and can't open up.

This will be different in local areas, local solutions to local problems. But it means that when they want, the people in our towns and cities can say: 'No. Enough is enough.'"

The

high street is bereft of shops
The pledge comes after an analysis of the UK high street, which is bereft of shops. Some areas have seen a domino effect of shop closures, and instead pawnbrokers, bookmakers and payday lenders open instead. One high street, namely in Chatham, Kent, currently operates 23 payday lenders within a mile. Clothing stores and boutiques are nowhere to be seen.

The elections, involving 34 councils in England and one in Wales, will take place on 2 May. Ed Miliband went to a high street in Ipswich to launch Labour's local election campaign, announcing proposals for new planning rules to give councils greater powers to prevent payday lenders and pawn shops taking over town centres.

Last year the government set up a 10 million pound High Street Innovation Fund following a review by retail expert Mary Portas on how to re-energise England's high streets.

The money has been awarded to 100 local authorities, although there have been concerns that the money has not yet been spent by councils.

The government says it has also given local authorities new powers to offer business rate discounts and has simplified planning restrictions to allow new businesses to set up in town centres.

Image: UK high street