The call comes as the SRC published its consultation response to the Scottish Government’s Review of the Town Centre Action Plan today. The response outlines the challenges retailers in town and city centres are facing, and proposes a number of urgent measures to support high streets. 

Over the last five months, £2.1 billion of retail sales have been lost in Scotland, exacerbated in part by the longer lockdown here compared to other parts of the UK. Similarly, shopper footfall in Scotland fell 54% last month compared to the same period last year.

In an attempt to ease the burden and stress on the Scottish retail sector, the SRC has called for a more coherent and less piecemeal approach to public policy towards town centres.

The consortium has said policies like costly business rates and restrictive and costly parking hamper efforts to revitalise town centres. It said that one way to accomplish this would be through creating a standing body to bring policy consistency, as is seen in Wales and England.

The SRC has also called for a revival of the Town Centres Fund on a sustained basis, including permitting Business Improvement Districts to access it.

The Scottish Government has also been urged to make an early commitment to bring forward a relief or taper to prevent 100% reinstatement of retail business rates in April.

With stores unable to trade at pre-pandemic levels, the SRC has also said there should be an extension to the notice period for terminating commercial leases in order to prevent evictions, and a moratorium introduced on aggressive debt enforcement in line with the approach in England.

David Lonsdale, Scottish Retail Consortium director, said: “The onset of coronavirus has significantly accelerated the transformation of the retail industry with a knock-on impact on town and city centres. Lower footfall, rising costs, and shifting shopping habits have put the traditional high street model in jeopardy.  Retail still has a role to play, but new investment will be needed to deliver more housing and community facilities in order to deliver vibrant and attractive places with compelling reasons for people to visit.

“That must be combined with practical tangible measures to ensure high streets remain economic hubs. Coherent policymaking, a more realistic approach to property taxation, and an honest acceptance of the role of private transport are needed right now to prevent the drip of store closures becoming a torrent. Similarly, both the UK and Scottish Governments need to do more to encourage consumer spending on the high street to help businesses battling low footfall and very high costs resulting from coronavirus protection measures.”

He added: “There is nothing inevitable about the decline of town centres, but if Ministers are serious about preventing closed up stores and gap-toothed high streets then action is needed swiftly. The alternative will be very difficult especially for larger towns and cities across Scotland.”