Experian high street report
Published on 24 September 2012 10:30 AM
Age Cymru is today welcoming calls made over the weekend by research group Experian about the future of high streets.
Experian has said that high streets of the future must cater to the needs of the ageing population and provide face-to-face services and safe and accessible shopping areas.
It also called for high streets to adapt to survive by accommodating an increase in online shopping.
Commenting on the report, our Director of Influencing and Programme Development Victoria Lloyd says:
"We support the view that high streets must adapt to cater for the needs of our ageing population.
"The retail environment has been changing for a number of years, the recession has undoubtedly been a significant factor in this process.
"The growth of out-of-town developments with many retailers moving away from our town centres and the rise of internet shopping are also contributing to the decline of our high streets.
"We believe this decline can be reversed through a focus on ‘lifetime communities' that provide the services and facilities that people across all age groups need to be able to live their lives to the full.
"Lifetime Communities is a concept which should be at the heart of the process of designing our towns and city centres if they are to thrive."