19/10/2011
GENECON has been appointed by the Department of Business,
Innovation & Skills to lead a review of the evidence on
town centre and high street performance. The research will
link into the Mary Portas review of high streets.
This high profile appointment reflects GENECON's long
experience of the economic and spatial dynamics of town centres and
high streets. GENECON is leading a team including Colliers, Urban
Pollinators and GJR Consulting. The research will address some key
questions being raised by the review including: why are
high streets valued as economic and social hubs, what has
influenced their changing fortunes over the last 10 years, what has
been the impact of previous policy and other responses, how can new
roles and functions be defined and managed in the future and what
are the relevant indicators of performance going forward.
David Tuck, GENECON's Managing Partner who is directing the
research comments: "This is a facinating study which, aligned to
the Portas Review, has the potential to influence the future
direction of economic, spatial and management responses to high
street performance - there is a clear need for some groundbreaking
approaches to high street roles and functions that reflect new
economic realities and changing patterns of use. High
streets have a long history as a focus of economic and social
interaction, but fundamental market, social and spatial shifts mean
that many must adapt to survive. This research will help
policy makers to better understand the drivers of change and
provide the evidence base to underpin new and creative responses to
high street futures."