As the saying goes, the night is darkest just before the dawn. That’s how the retail industry must be feeling right now.
From January to June over 11,000 chain stores have closed (an average of 60 shops a day). H2 seems to be faring no better, with further closures from some of the UK’s largest brands – Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, and Gap – also on the way.
To combat this, the UK government has announced new measures to help revitalise the high street. This includes greater freedom to redesign empty commercial spaces without the need for lengthy planning permissions....