How Can England’s High Streets Be Revitalised? MPs Publish Written Evidence From McDonald’s, Boots, and Primark

Key Points

• The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee has published 20 written-evidence submissions for its inquiry into revitalising England’s high streets.
• Key major corporate and organizational submitters include McDonald’s UK & Ireland, Boots, Primark, Post Office Ltd, Association of Convenience Stores, Local Government Association, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Chair Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP highlighted critical challenges facing town centres, including business rates, online retail shifts, high street crime, alleged tax evasion, and “unwanted” storefronts like vape and betting shops.
• The Parliamentary committee began its formal oral evidence hearings on Tuesday morning, focussing on trading standards enforcement, high street crime, and concerns regarding corporate “phoenixing” used as potential fronts for money laundering.
• The inquiry aims to formulate practical policy recommendations for central government and local authorities to grant councils the necessary powers to help high streets adapt and thrive.

Britain Today News (BTN) October 15, 2026 – The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has officially published 20 written-evidence submissions for its parliamentary inquiry into revitalising England’s high streets, receiving detailed submissions from major retail and fast-food giants including McDonald’s UK & Ireland, Boots, and Primark.

The published evidence forms the foundation of a sweeping parliamentary investigation examining the severe economic and social pressures reshaping British town centres. Among the corporate heavyweights, retail leaders, and research institutions submitting evidence to the House of Commons inquiry are McDonald’s UK & Ireland, the Bennett School of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, the Landscape Institute, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Haypp Group, the Healthy Urban Places research consortium, Dr James Close, the Gambling Business Group, the Institute of Licensing, Public First, Boots, Post Office Ltd, The Centre for Social Justice, Novomatic UK, Power to Change, the Local Government Association (LGA), Primark, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

In an official parliamentary statement commenting on the release of the written submissions, Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, expressed gratitude to all contributing stakeholders. As reported by the parliamentary reporting staff of Evening Washington, Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP stated: “I’m grateful to all those who have submitted written evidence to our inquiry. The written submissions have tackled a range of issues facing our high streets today. From addressing concerns around so-called ‘unwanted’ businesses, such as vape and betting shops, to the future of the high street given the shift to online retail. Submissions also explored the effect of business rates on high-street stores and the impact of high street crime and alleged tax-evasion.”

Highlighting the wider strategic focus of the parliamentary investigation, Ms Oppong-Asare MP further remarked: “High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but many are struggling in the face of economic and social change. Our inquiry will be focussing on the practical steps needed to renew and revitalise town centres, looking at the powers which councils and the government need to help high streets thrive once again across England.”

On Tuesday morning, the cross-party Select Committee convened to begin formal oral evidence hearings for the inquiry. The opening parliamentary session focussed directly on high street crime, enforcement standards, and the growing public and political concern over the proliferation of what ministers and officials have classified as “unwanted shops”. MPs on the committee scrutinised the proliferation of independent vaping outlets and gambling premises, whilst simultaneously examining the impact of recent reforms to commercial business rates. Furthermore, lawmakers evaluated evidence surrounding fraudulent commercial practices, specifically looking into allegations of ‘phoenixing’—where insolvent businesses deliberately liquidate to avoid taxes and debts before re-emerging under a new corporate entity—amid acute fears that certain rogue high street storefronts are being deployed as illicit fronts for money laundering.

What Is the Full Scope of Written Evidence Received by the HCLG Committee?

To ensure full transparency and complete coverage of the parliamentary record, the HCLG Select Committee confirmed the publication of all 20 formal written-evidence submissions. The published submissions received by the House of Commons comprise contributions from the following organisations, academic institutions, and industry representatives:

1. McDonald’s UK & Ireland
2. Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge
3. Landscape Institute
4. Association of Convenience Stores (ACS)
5. Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
6. Haypp Group
7. Healthy Urban Places research consortium
8. Dr James Close
9. Gambling Business Group
10. Institute of Licensing
11. Public First
12. Boots
13. Post Office Ltd
14. The Centre for Social Justice
15. Novomatic UK
16. Power to Change
17. Local Government Association (LGA)
18. Primark
19. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
20. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

Background of the High Street Revitalisation Inquiry

The launch of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry comes at a critical juncture for retail geography and urban planning in England. Over the past decade, British high streets have experienced compounded pressures stemming from rapid structural shifts toward e-commerce, inflationary overheads, elevated energy tariffs, and an archaic commercial property valuation framework. High-profile corporate restructurings and retail liquidations have left significant vacancy rates across town centres, prompting heightened debate over the role of local government planning powers.

In response to persistent community concerns, parliamentary attention has increasingly turned toward local planning management, commercial licensing regimes, and high street security. Local authorities have frequently argued that existing statutory frameworks leave them with limited intervention mechanisms to curb the clustering of specific store types—such as betting shops, fast-food outlets, and vape shops—or to combat sophisticated financial crime such as phoenixing and tax evasion on local commercial strips. The HCLG Committee’s inquiry was formally launched to evaluate whether additional legislative powers, statutory planning tools, and business rate recalibrations are required to assist local councils in rebuilding vibrant, resilient, and multi-functional town centres.

Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Local Businesses, Consumers, and Local Authorities?

The publication of this comprehensive evidence base and the ongoing parliamentary hearings are set to directly inform upcoming national policy recommendations, legislative proposals, and municipal regulation across England.

For major high street retailers and flagship anchor tenants such as Boots, Primark, and McDonald’s, the inquiry’s findings are likely to accelerate long-sought policy interventions regarding commercial business rates reform and enhanced policing against retail crime and shoplifting. If the select committee recommends regulatory overhauls that level the fiscal playing field between brick-and-mortar storefronts and online retail conglomerates, physical retailers could see tangible reductions in overhead pressures, encouraging renewed long-term capital investment in town centre footprints.

For local consumers and residents, the inquiry is anticipated to drive stricter municipal planning controls and licensing restrictions. As MPs evaluate evidence concerning “unwanted” high street operations, local councils may ultimately be granted enhanced statutory authority to restrict the over-concentration of betting venues and vape shops. Furthermore, intensified enforcement against fraudulent front businesses and phoenixing operations will likely improve trading standards, reduce civic decay, and foster safer, safer-feeling, and more diverse community hubs.

For local authorities and urban planning bodies, the resulting parliamentary report is expected to pave the way for expanded enforcement powers and streamlined planning frameworks. Armed with clearer legislative backing, local councils will be better equipped to curate balanced commercial tenant mixes, repurpose vacant retail space for civic or residential use, and tackle tax evasion and financial crime effectively on England’s high streets.