The Distressed Retail Property Taskforce (DRPT) was formed in July 2012 following a review of UK high streets by retail expert Mary Portas and aims to address the property aspects of Portas' recommendations.
The taskforce met for the first time last week and has announced its members. The group plans to identify ways to improve the “vitality and performance” of town centres.
The conclusions of the report will be submitted to Mark Prisk, minister of state for housing and local government.
“I look forward to seeing the conclusions that the group reaches, and how our network of over 300 Town Team Partners and 27 Portas Pilots across the country can use their findings to breathe new life into their high streets," Prisk said.
“The Taskforce recognises that our High Streets are going through a structural recalibration, rather than an economic cycle from which we will emerge over time," said DRPT chairman Mark Williams. "The wider economic, consumer and retail markets have moved at a pace that our High Streets and property in general, have not been fast enough to adapt [to]. The reasons for this need careful examination as a way of understanding what the current property-related barriers to rejuvenation are, and what the range of options or solutions could be."
“The solutions to re-establishing town centres as dominant locations for the communities they serve and the local economies which rely on their prosperity will vary and involve both public and private sector property," he said. "Critically though, the Prime Minister has pushed the plight of the High Street high up the political agenda. This research will provide hard evidence to allow tough choices over priorities to be made. Mary Portas’ enthusiasm, profile and energy will ensure that the topic remains a high priority by the time we report.”
Other members of the force include Association of Chief Estates Surveyors, the British Council of Shopping Centres, the British Property Federation, the British Retail Consortium, the Investment Property Forum, the Local Government Association, the Property Bankers Forum the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and The Booksellers Association, GL Hearn, Gloucestershire LEP, and the Javelin Group.
