Death of the High Street

Hosted by Dr Carl Fraser

The “death of the high street” has been a phrase long associated with patterns of living, working and commuting which threaten the status of this long standing local resource. Since the 1950s and 60s the emergence of the Supermarkets and Malls represented the biggest threat, with the arrival of digital platform economies and outdated planning codes being just some of the new landscape of threats that the traditional structure faces today.

The Covid-19 pandemic has drawn focus on the continuing social and economic challenges that exist in contemporary society, accelerating processes of change that were already underway. The traditional high and main streets, with their focus on retail and leisure, and residential accommodation have suffered. The debate over the future joinsquestions of social and economic equity, spatial management and planning, public health as well the larger issue of adaptation for climate change. This is fertile ground for direct impact and wider public engagement.

Death of the High Street will bring together writers to share research interests and agendas, showcasing current narratives on high streets and town centres, and build a network to facilitate academic exchange, collaborative projects and partnerships beyond. Initially we will identify emerging gaps and opportunities and from this basis we will outline alternative futures for traditional high and main streets.

launching this spring on academic college