How to Save Our Town Centres: A Radical Agenda for the Future of High Streets

How to Save Our Town Centres: A Radical Agenda for the Future of High Streets, Julian Dobson, London, Policy Press, 2015, 276pp, £23.99 (paperback), ISBN 978i447323938In his most recent book, Julian Dobson describes and analyses the state of UK high streets and town centres, arguing that an exclusive focus on shopping in high streets is not sufficient in order to revitalise town centres. Rather, instead, high streets should relate to urban and societal contexts if they are ever again to provide functioning spaces for urban communities.The book consists of two parts and 12 chapters. Part 1 illustrates the actual state of town centres with examples from all over the UK, and argues for the economic, social and cultural importance of town centres. In Chapter 2, the author criticises the idea of 'retail-led regeneration' (p. 23), which - over several decades - resulted in 'disconnected communities' (p. 35) and rather loosely relates to the idea of resilient communities. Chapter 3 provides several examples of non- or not-so-well-functioning local markets, arguing that a 'human scale' (p. 45) is needed in order to revitalise high streets. Chapter 4 takes a closer look at the consequences of (out-of-town and in-town) shopping centres on local economies and communities. In that context, the author criticises the role of globalised companies for neither relating nor contributing to local communities. Chapter 5 then provides a first glance at the advantages of community-oriented retailing and brings further examples of local initiatives that challenge the decline of high streets by addressing a wider focus of life quality, and a sense of place and history.Part 2 sketches potential futures for town centres by emphasising the positive influences of collaborative consumption on local markets and communities. Chapter 6 argues for a need to relate production and consumption at the local level and elaborates on the idea of 'people-centred economic development' (p. 120). Starting from Chapter 7, the focus of the book expands to other topics important to local communities, such as public services, public spaces, housing and education. It provides some examples from the collaborative and sharing economies which relate local needs and skills to neglected spaces. In addition, this chapter relates to past and recent urban-planning policies, and emphasises the role of local government in bringing substantial, and sustainable, change to UK high streets. Chapter 8 focuses on public spaces, argues for walkable towns and the creative use of spaces, providing the readers with further examples of community efforts to revitalise their towns. …