Parliamentary Spokesperson Katie Mansfield on how we can Revitalise our High Streets

London’s high streets haven’t just faded, they have been failed. 

Even in some of London’s most vibrant places, like West End Lane, Hampstead Heath Street and Highgate Village, local businesses are sounding the alarm. Rising rents, increasing business rates, energy bills and national insurance rises are squeezing local and independent businesses.  At the same time, evolving expectations and the growth of online shopping are adding pressure.

If some of London’s strongest high streets are feeling the strain, it is clear that the system is not working.

For years, governments have treated high street decline as inevitable. It isn’t. It is the result of political choices - a tax system that penalises physical shops, rising costs with too little support, and a failure to back local communities.

At our recent Liberal Democrat Conference, we set out a different vision.  High streets that are not just retail spaces but the beating heart of our communities.  This is not about nostalgia. It is about fairness, local control, and backing the small businesses that give places their character.

And we know that change is possible.  In Richmond, the Liberal Democrat-run council transformed its town centre for a day through the Centre Stage festival, increasing footfall by a third and boosting retail takings by 40%. With the right leadership, high streets can thrive.

In Hampstead and Highgate, there is growing frustration that Camden Council is not doing enough to protect the independent businesses and essential services. Rising rents, disappearing banks and post offices, and a lack of coordinated support risk hollowing out what makes these places special.

We need change at every level.

Nationally, that means an emergency cut to VAT for hospitality, meaningful business rates reform, fair energy prices, stronger digital support and action to bring empty shops back into use.

Locally, we need High Street Improvement Districts, bringing together the council, businesses, cultural institutions and communities to create a long-term vision for each high street, backed by a clear delivery plan, strong local leadership, and proper communication.

We should make it easier to turn empty units into community hubs, where local services, community groups and small businesses can meet the needs of the community. We need investment in culture and events that bring people together. 

We also need dedicated investment in the design of the public realm - greener spaces, better seating, and high-quality environments that make places like Hampstead Heath Street, West End Lane and Highgate Village somewhere everyone wants to (and is able to) spend time.

And we must tackle safety head-on because when we don’t feel safe, we won’t spend time on the high street. That means better lighting, smarter design in crime hotspots, more CCTV, and tackling organised shoplifting with a dedicated unit in the National Crime Agency.

Above all, we need political will.

The Liberal Democrats are clear. We choose to back our high streets, support independent businesses and empower local communities. Because this is not just about shops. It is about protecting the future of the places we love.

For more details on our policy, please click here.