[denphone]

Originally Posted by Stuart

It was, now it's not.

High street shops are facing problems from three directions..

1. The internet: Amazon and the like are able to sell things at far lower cost that high street shops simply because they have to maintain fewer premises, fewer staff and so their costs are lower.
2. Out of town shopping centres and retail parks: Rental for these is lower than town centre shops. Also, large stores in retail parks have the advantage that if they need to, they can often add 2nd floors inside the store with no need to get planning permission.
3. The recession: People are tending to make do and mend. While this is good for the environment, it's not good for the business of those selling replacement goods.
   
   
   

The solution is simple, but not always palatable. We (as people) need to be willing and able to spend more. To save town centres, we also need the government and/or local councils to restrict the building of retail parks or out of town shopping centres.

You have summed it up perfectly.