Transcripts For BBCNEWS Panorama 20200117

For community, for people to come together. Somewhere in the centre of the high street, there could be a key public space. Tonight on panorama, well see how, in parts of the country, things are already changing. That has to increase the footfall, that has to regenerate the area. Stockton, sitting on the river tees, in the north east of england. It has a proud heritage, but its high street has been struggling for a while. In the last five years, the town centre has lost more than 100 stores. Hi, richard. Hi, adam. This is a prime example of whats happening in the retail market. This was a former Marks Spencer unit which closed in august last year. Its been vacant since their departure. Its not a good sign, is it, if a big retailer like Marks Spencer is going, its just not working . Thats got to be disheartening. Its absolutely disheartening. Its frustrating. Its one in a long line of retailers who are consolidating right across the uk and we are victims of that. And weve got to step in and look at different uses for our town centres. I can see another vacancy up there. But debenhams ahead of us. Debenhams have announced that stockton will be one of many towns where their stores will close and that leaves a very Large Retail Store with a problem not only for its owners but also us as the council. This week debenhams is closing 19 of the 50 shops it plans to shut in the next few years. Its part of what the company describes as a restructure. This one will close in a couple of days time. As soon as you walk into the high street you see debenhams. Were just going to have an empty shop welcoming us. It employs a lot of people for this area, especially with the unemployment in this area being really high. It will be a big loss. Every year i used to go and get the same christmas present, the same perfume from debenhams for my mum. Sorry, every year you get your mum the same present . Ever think its time for a change . She likes it, she knows its my present these local teenagers have already seen big changes. Maybe a few years ago there was more to do, a lot more shops were open, where now i tend to go elsewhere. I havent been down the high street in a couple of months. Why . It doesnt appeal to me. I do tend to use it for, like, the music scene but thats generally all i really use it for. Stockton has a reputation for being ahead of the curve in rejuvenating its town centre, with the Council Planning and investing in change. Investment in our town centre started with the public realm and this central fountains area. Weve created what we describe as a large outdoor room so that weve got places for performers and our large sporting events that we have right throughout the year here in stockton. Its about creating that footfall. So, the more people that weve got living in town, working in town and coming and experiencing the fantastic Events Program that weve got, then, theyre going to use the retail. So, how much have you spent on the town centre . Well, over recent years, particularly since 2010, ii, weve spent £38 million. And their plans dont end there. This is a very big site, built in the 1970s, and it provides a bit of a barrier to the river. Stockton is on the short list for a share of a £1 billion pot the government has committed to spend, helping towns realize plans for their high streets. Were investing in buildings that we can take control of. We recognise that retail is a changing market. It needs to contract to be fit for purpose for our town. Theyre looking at Different Development options. The council says what matters most is that by owning these sites theyll be able to lead on regeneration of the area. We started a conversation with our residents about what they want to see for the future of their town. Do they want to see more leisure based facilities, more open space, more housing, more commercial development to help with part of the town centres redevelopment . The truth is, high streets have always had to adapt and change, responding to the shifting demands of their communities. Its always good to look at maps like this cos youve got the history of town centre and retail change in one place. Professor cathy parker is one of the leaders of the high streets task force, set up by the government last year, to support the transformation of town centres. Shes an expert on the history of retail. If you were going to go out and buy an outfit then youd be buying your gloves in one shop, and your dress in another and petticoats in another, so yes, far, far more specialised. But high streets were never just about shops. They were also social hubs, bustling centres for communities to live, work and play together. Retail has only ever been a part of the functions of a town and city. Perhaps, especially in the last century, the 19805 and 905, we got a little bit fixated on retail, and we thought that the whole town and the whole city was all about retail. And as we became more fixated, so high streets started to lose their individuality. Many once distinctive town centres became home to the same set of chain stores. A lot of our prime space in our town and city centres has been filled up by very boring retail, actually. But with some chains going out of business, and others re structuring, theres an inevitable impact on high streets. Last year nearly 6,000 chain Stores Closed their doors for the last time. That space is now an opportunity for other types of retail, thats really what people want, they want things a little bit more exciting and new. So, what about the future, then . I think places need to understand their function and the things that do draw people in to the town centre, some still have a very important retail function, some are much more about an experience, so theyre a mixture of heritage and culture. Some places are just much more sort of everyday, theyre multifunctional. Then we have another category which is the sort of holiday town. Southend on sea its been a holiday destination for east end day trippers for generations and still attracts millions of visitors a year. Now, its challenge is to make its high street more of a draw for locals and visitor alike. Ground floor for perfumery, stationery and leather goods. Two of my wedding presents came from this shop. I was asked to pick out something i wanted and i picked out a set of cutlery and a dinner service. There was a glass cabinet there and i bought a little lady from that glass cabinet all them years ago it was lovely. Us old ones, we like going to have a cup of tea and a look round the shops. Dont know what were going to do when they close them all. This is havens on hamlet court road in the suburb of westcliff on sea. Up here is my great grandfather, rawlings. This is my grandfather on his motorbike there, and this is my father. Nigels great grandfather first opened a shop on this street more than 100 years ago. What was it like here then . It was fantastic. Families would on saturdays come out and do a shopping expedition. They would stay in areas like this and not only use the shops, but the cafes and restaurants. Theyd get dressed up for it, as well, so it was a pretty good, grand day out. Havens started out selling china and fancy glassware. When i came in, we put in a Stationery Department on the ground floor and a Perfumery Department, and then in latter days we put in ladies fashion that worked for about three months and then we started to see that become increasingly challenging. So, we moved out of that and then back into more housewares in that area. Nigel and his family saw the writing on the wall and shut up the bricks and mortar shop in 2018. There comes a point when you think, you know what . Weve got to make changes, even more serious changes than weve made. And so thats when you end up doing what weve done, which is to cut yourself from the retail side of it, and just purely trade online. They now run that Online Business from the top floor of the building. And the allure of internet shopping continues to be felt around the country, but, it still only accounts for about 20 of total sales. The problem for high streets like this is that it seems we have decided to do much of our shopping out of town centres. So, we might bemoan about the decline of the high street, but its happening because we choose not to shop here. In december, the number of people visiting our high streets, known in the trade as footfall, fell by 3. 5 compared to the year before. Its a trend that has marked the last decade. Since 2009, footfall has fallen by just over 20 . Havens is just one of the many shops to have closed in this suburban high street. Therell be a cafe here. And all the tables will come out here. So this is where they used to sell jewellery and makeup and smellys and that type of thing. So, its going to be totally transformed. Local charity chief, lin boulter, has taken over most of the building with plans for a service hub that she hopes will help cover the cost of the rent. Youll come to this end of haven, weve got our first, forfeet, a podiatrist here, Public Health doing flu jabs and smoking cessation, things like that, weve got a kitchen that is going to be serving the cafe. Toilet block, very important. And in here weve been working with a local care provider and were going to have a day centre thats going to be available for up to 15 people a day. Lins hope, for this place to be buzzing by the end of january, is going to take a lot of doing. Just down the road on southends main high street, im meeting cathy parker again. This is the entrance to the high street. What do you make of it . Well, i only know its the entrance cos quite a few people are walking up that way. Theres nothing to tell me this is the grand entrance to southend on sea. This really should be welcoming people and attracting people and drawing people in and it actually is just the back of some very ugly retail units. This is a high street facing challenges typical of many others around the country. So weve come into this space. Its opened up, certainly. What do you make of this bit of the development . Um, well, i think its very much of its time. I suppose its anchored here by a Shopping Centre and weve got some newer retail over this side of the public space here, but itjust looks a bit sad. I know the council is thinking of encouraging sort of food and beverage into this area, market stalls selling food. Goodidea . Thats definitely a good idea the regeneration of a lot of town centres now is coming from more temporary usage. Things like food markets, farmers markets, small festivals. The council is now investing in a Major Overhaul of the public spaces around here, part of wider plans to draw people and business back in. The council would like to see a rich and evolving town centre, so its not about setting a static vision but one that is dynamic. So, that might be more residential, certainly looking above existing retail units, but also thinking maybe about theming areas of the high street, around residential or cultural leisure activities, or food and drinks, digital even. Building on southends heritage, they want to reduce the amount of space given to shops and create a mix of offerings on the high street. Just a short walk from here, it has plans to transform areas it owns, creating new homes and better connections to the high street. And another for a privately funded all weather leisure scheme including a cinema, restaurants and a hotel. Hi. Entrepreneurjohn timpson chaired an expert panel tasked with advising the government on what can be done to help high streets like this to thrive. It seemed pretty obvious to me that weve got more shop premises than we need. So, why not change them into houses because we havent got enough houses . Put more people back in, that gives a bit more life. But also put back in there what people need to do, they want to do, like to do with leisure, to do with medical services, libraries, all the things which will make sure that people not only go into the town, but actually meet other people. Right. Because my worry was that were losing that sense of community and, actually, human beings need human contact. And many people are putting ideas like this into practice. James hampton is an architect whose firm works with councils to rejuvenate town centres. Tell me what you think the philosophy for a good high street how it should work. We came up with these four key design themes. Resilience is the idea of flexibility and adaptability, so in the design of the high street, you allow for different uses over time, things can flex and change. Local ness is about the idea that whatever you do in the ideal high street, it has to come from the local area. It has to be specific to the local people and local needs. Connectivity is critical, in a high street people can get there, but can get there easily, through walking, cycling and public transport. The idea of greening that the high street should be a place of health and wellbeing, and greenery is a way to do that. It also helps to, you know, improve air quality, and creates places that people want to be. Youre going to show me what the elements are that go into the ideal high street, are you . Right, lets get building. Start off with an anchor building at one end of the high street, Something Like an art gallery, a community theatre, for example. Something to attract visitors in. Thats right. And as you move along the high street, there will be buildings that have work space or retail on the ground floor, and probably residential uses above. And somewhere in the centre of the high street is a key public space. So will be a flexible public space. It could be a market or an event space or a performance space. Somewhere where people can come and gather outside. Crucial to have greenery. They might be local parks that can connect to the high street. But you can also have smaller parks, actually on the high street. And thenjust continuing the high street with retail units at the ground floor, and then more residential above. The perfect high street. It was easy. Well, 0k. Of course its not that easy when it comes to the real world. There may be some agreement that change should happen. Its less clear who should create it. Some local authorities are choosing to take the lead, but that can come at a cost. In the last three years, £775 million has been spent by councils buying up Shopping Centres, in some cases, borrowing money to do it. So, is buying up properties the right thing to do . I think each location needs to make their own choices and decisions on that. Some authorities clearly have. They feel thats the right thing, to be able to have ownership. Theres no doubt that, if you own something, it is far easier to regenerate it and do what you want to, than if its owned by a third party. So, i think its a case of horses for courses. Councils are stepping in and buying properties to redevelop them themselves. Are you not worried that its placing councils at some risk, with public money . Well, there is always risk when you run a council, and you have to do a Risk Assessment on whatever decision it is that youre making. Back in stockton, im getting my steel capped boots and hard hat on. This is the newjewel in the crown of our town centre going forward. The council is renovating the towns art deco theatre, the globe. The plan was to put £1 million of public money into the building work. But now the project has been revamped, and its set to cost them more than £22 million nearly £19 million of that borrowed. How does this fit in to your strategy of revitalising the town centre . Its part of our diversification strategy. Town centres not just about retail, but about evening economy, leisure offer. And this sits right at the heart of what were trying to achieve, to bring new people into town for different reasons. I mean, it is a huge gamble. Its a lot of money on the hope that people will come. Were very confident in that. There is a strong market for venues of this size, not only for audiences to come, but the acts that want to play here. I am available for the opening night, if you need a performance. Perhaps a double act, adam . The new ant and dec . Indeed. The better looking new ant and dec. Absolutely. The council says the globe could attract 200,000 visitors a year, generating £18 million for the local economy. As part of its regeneration effort, the council also runs this enterprise arcade. Its meant to help grow retail businesses. They hope some will set up shop on the high street, and prepare them for the risks that entails. How do you like your tea . Do you like it weak, in the middle, or strong . Karen runs a small cafe here. After five years building the business, shesjoined by her mentor as she looks for somewhere more permanent. Youll see its split into two different parts. Oh, wow, yep. Perfect kitchen this, karen. Id probably want the sink further back, right over there. And then the rent . What id hope is we can do something around about £1,000 a month on this shop, so thats £12,000 a year. Right, 0k. £1,000 for the rent, thats the rent, and then youve got to pay the rates, and then youve got to pay the service charges. And rates are a big issue for those on the high street. Councils dont set the rates, but they do collect them. Half goes to the government, and they keep the rest. But they can offer discounts. Will i be allowed an oven . Of course you will. Its your shop, you can have what you want. A real oven, imagine that. Even factoring in the discounts shes entitled to, karen would have to pay around £7,000 a year in rates for this space and almost £2,500 more for the service charge. Thats massive, isnt it . Thats a lot of money, thats a lot of money. I can see us fitting into this position, and making it something and, you know, itsjust getting it to the right price. The reason were seeing a lot of retailers go out of business is because their their rates are very high. So, if you had boris on the phone, your plea to him on Business Rates would be what . That we need a thorough review of Business Rates. If retailers are going to thrive on the high street, they need lower Business Rates. And we need a review, which will ultimately lead to online retailers and physical retailers having a level playing field. The government has announced a review, but not when it will happen, or exactly what it will look at. What it has committed to is cutting the rates bill for small retail businesses, by increasing their discount from one third to a half. But that wont be enough to answer all the challenges our high streets face. Im standing between two iconic brands john lewis and debenhams. Thisjohn lewis has already closed, and this debenhams is scheduled for closure. The new owners of what was thejohn lewis building have grand designs for its future, and shopping doesnt get much of a look in. Thank you very much. Quite a site. Yes, very different to how it would have been before the store closed. Thisll be the heart of the building. So central reception here, where one can check in for hotel, check in for office use, buy coffee. All around the outside will be retail units, florists, vinyl, barbers, etc. Ok, so first floor, adam. At the front, all the way along, facing the high street, we have private offices for our work space members. This multimillion pound project will see the building transformed, with office space for co working, a bike workshop, pop up stores, a hotel, a cinema, and more. Now, what makes you think this is going to work . We look at a breakdown of the city, the population. 350,000 people live in portsmouth. The university very Large University here, growing, cosmopolitan. We have good corporate base in the city, so Larger Companies where Smaller Companies can feed off and work with. We need a very good micro location, where people want to work, where you want to come and work because theres shops, bars, restaurants around, close to the sea, go for a run at lunchtime. All of that thrown together. This ticks every box. Ok, on the roof, our new bar here, rooftop bar, with terrace, studio space, fitness. I mean, this mixed use sort of development, do you think that is the future for the high streets . The more different uses you can find, gives you more options, more chances to create value. The sum of what you put together is greater than the sum of the parts. How long til i can actually get a drink up here . Id very much hope by the autumn. Ill see you there. Well, ive waited longer in pubs, but ill look forward to it. Good for you. Not bad. Back in southend, new attractions are popping up in what were once shops, and theyre helping to draw a new crowd into town. This is kind of like the start of your experience. It will feed through, and at the end youll go into the restaurant. We are crazy golf, but we combine it with food, we combine it with beverages. So its an interesting hybrid of three very distinctive businesses that weve kind ofjust spliced together. Caddy says around 120,000 visitors came through their doors in theirfirst year. Why weve survived 18 months and hopefully will survive three years is that it is a hybrid. People come and have a drink and a game of golf, it goes hand in hand. What works is all three together. If we took any of those away, we probably would have closed down by now. People that are travelling outside of southend very much come to us as a destination, but will then do a bit of shopping and vice versa. If everyone spent £5 a month on their high street, and i think communities coming back and just spending that extra money, even just £5 a month, would see their high street change drastically. Whilst the crazy golf on the high street is attracting a younger crowd, a few miles down the road at the haven. They seem to be doing well with a slightly more mature market. There are activities such as tai chi, snooker, and darts that are happening all the time. The classes keep fit, like over here now. We have stroller cise, we have yoga. Downstairs, the renovation is complete. Theyre loving the cafe. We have a day centre thats actually working with people who are paying for our services. We have social services, weve got our hairdressers. We would hope, with all the services up and running, with the day centre working, were talking anything between 500 1,000 a day, which when you think, and nigel i think would agree with me, that he used to maybe have five or ten sometimes a day. That has to increase the footfall, that has to regenerate the area, because those people will then go into the bakers and the shops and buy. Nigels father, graham, who ran the Family Business here for years, has come to see how its changed. So, here we are. Yes, a little tea coffee shop. Used to be the Perfumery Department over there, do you remember . Its nice to see the building being put to good use, and bringing the local community together, where they can enjoy the autumn of their lives. Its always been about people. You dont have a business without people. I reckon, by the end ofjanuary, all of this will be buzzing. We will regenerate this area. Hello there. After all the rough, tabular weather we have had this week, the windy weather, things will come down in time for the weekend. Still plenty of showers around through friday. Some of them heavy with hail and thunder across parts of england and wales and some of the showers is moving southwards across scotla nd showers is moving southwards across scotland and Northern Ireland will be wintry up of a high ground. Its another windy day in the far north of scotland, lighter winds elsewhere. Temperatures coming down from the north, highs 7 11 degrees. As we head into the weekend, this is when the, whether showers is at hand. It will be much drier, much brighter than it has been, but there will be some overnight frost. A cold and in places a frosty such a saturday morning than a dozen a fine day. One or two showers across scotland. Still windy in the far north of scotland. Temperatures, 79d, north of scotland. Temperatures, 7 9d, done where they have been, but with the sunshine it shouldnt feel too bad. A widely frosty start on sunday morning, but another dry day with plenty of sunshine. To rejuvenate town centres. This is bbc news welcome if youre watching here in the uk, on pbs in america or around the globe. Im mike embley. Our top stories the moment of crisis has come a grim warning from one of the worlds most influential environmentalists. As australia burns, were out on patrol with one team trying to contain the flames in new south wales. A moment in history as Donald Trumps impeachment trial gets under way in the senate the president isnt impressed by any of it. Back to work after the big split announcement could it be prince harrys final royal appearance . Hard times a struggling british bookshop is flooded with orders as one desperate tweet takes it from no sales to global sales