Douglas Development Partnership’s Chris Pycroft has welcomed recommendations made by retail expert Mary Portas in her report* into how to revive the high street. Development manager Mr Pycroft said: ‘The Portas Review has started a much-needed national conversation about how to make the most of our high streets. Encouragingly, a number of recommendations Mary Portas makes in her review Douglas Development Partnership is either already implementing or considering for the future. ‘We’re already ahead of the game in respect of Ms Portas’s concept of a “town team”, which she sees as a “visionary, strategic and strong operational management team”. Some time ago the Council appointed Gill Anderson as Douglas town centre manager to work with the Development Partnership’s board and advisory group. These are decision-makers experienced in retail and business who are actively involved with the Partnership in helping change attitudes, driving schemes to regenerate the town and are taking a strategic view of the Douglas of the future. In short, a body of people working to identify, develop and communicate a Douglas “brand”. ‘Of particular interest is Mary Portas’s proposal for a national market day and her belief that “markets are a fantastic way to bring a town to life…a key source of retail innovation”. The Partnership has been involved with the outdoor markets on North Quay and, more recently, with the Christmas emporium in Castle Street and Marina Road. Both initiatives have demonstrated the value of markets and street trading to help drive footfall to some of the quieter parts of the town centre and show there is clearly an appetite for a re-imagined retail experience, very much in line with Ms Portas’s vision which is, in her words, “to put the heart back into our high streets” so that they become destinations for, and I quote: “socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning…a civic not a private space”. All of which reflects the Partnership’s commitment to create a more vibrant town centre, as exemplified by last year’s Festival of Youth when the atmosphere in Douglas’s retail centre came alive with high-energy and, occasionally off-the-wall street entertainment. ‘I am also heartened that throughout her report Mary Portas makes use of the word “destination” to put across the message that high streets and, by extension, town centres, should be much more than simply somewhere to shop. Her vision is one of high streets “re-imagined as destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning.” Her review goes on to say: “High streets must be ready to experiment, try new things, take risks and become destinations again.” I mention this because when the town centre regeneration process began the scheme was branded “Destination Douglas” which I believe crystallises the vision of a dynamic and vibrant town with a unique sense of place, a town people would want to discover and a town which people would want to experience. ‘There are, of course, some recommendations that relate to legislation. Some of the existing legislation quoted by Ms Portas, such as that relating to business improvement districts, is not currently available in the Isle of Man. The Partnership will be considering some of the legislative issues over the next few months to consider whether an approach should be made to government with regard to bringing forward specific legislation to help support the island’s town centres. What is very clear from the review is that the Isle of Man, through a combination of good policy and luck, has managed to avoid a growth in out-of-town retailing. This has allowed our town centres and high streets to remain the main focus of retailing in the island. We should make every effort to ensure that this remains the case in the future through the use of strong planning policy and a supportive retail and leisure policy. ‘There are also a number of recommendations in the review, particularly those relating to deregulation, which I believe are rather naive and would ultimately not benefit town centres. That said, Douglas Development Partnership and the many other Douglas stakeholders who recognise the importance of a re-invigorated town centre, applaud Ms Portas for wanting to “breathe economic and community life back into our towns” and we share her vision for towns to serve as “vibrant destinations people choose to visit.”’ *The Portas Review: An independent review into the future of our high streets. (www.maryportas.com) ENDS