Rip out ugly clutter to help revive UK high streets, says thinktank
Summary
A report by Create Streets and Cyclehoop recommends low-cost changes to make UK high streets more appealing, including reducing traffic and removing unnecessary street furniture. Its estimates suggest that using kerbside space for shared bikes or outdoor dining can generate more spending for nearby businesses than using it for parking.Key Facts
- The report argues that many town and city centres are designed for traffic rather than for people to spend time in.
- It recommends removing or reducing unnecessary street furniture and making better use of kerbside space.
- The report estimates that one high-street parking space in a market town serves about 3.5 vehicles a day and is linked to just over £73,000 in annual spending at nearby shops.
- It estimates that nine shared e-bikes using the same 12 square metres generate about 13 trips a day and more than £146,000 in annual nearby spending in a market town.
- In a busier city, the report estimates that shared bikes in the same space could generate more than £300,000 in annual spending.
- The report estimates that outdoor dining in city-centre kerbside space could generate about £120,000 in extra annual spending.
- It calls removing pedestrian guardrails beside roads a cost-effective upgrade for many high streets, arguing that they offer limited safety benefits.
- The UK government announced a £210 million high-street regeneration fund in September, with much of the money intended for building projects.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
