More than 2,200 readers and business owners call for action to revitalise town and city centres
Scots are visiting their town and city centres less often, spending more money online and becoming increasingly concerned about the number of vacant premises on their high streets, according to major new research from The Press and Journal, The Courier and The Sunday Post.
The findings come from Fresh Start, a joint campaign launched by the three news brands to shine a spotlight on the future of Scotland's town and city centres and push for action to support local businesses and communities.
The survey results come as the future of high streets moves higher up the political agenda across the UK. Recent proposals to devolve greater powers and funding to cities and regions have been linked to efforts to regenerate town centres, attract investment and support local businesses. Fresh Start will use the evidence gathered from communities across Scotland to ensure Scottish voices are part of that debate.
More than 2,200 readers and business owners took part in the survey, making it one of the largest audience consultations ever undertaken across the three titles.
The results paint a concerning picture of declining confidence in local high streets.
One issue emerged as the clearest symbol of that decline: empty premises.
Almost all respondents (91%) said vacant shops and units are more noticeable than they were a year ago, while 75% said their presence makes them less likely to spend time in their local town or city centre. Furthermore, 95% believe vacant premises negatively affect the appearance of town and city centres.
However, the research also highlights a strong desire for revitalisation.
Respondents identified a wider variety of shops as the biggest factor that would encourage them to return to local high streets, while many also called for cleaner, safer and more attractive town centres. Businesses echoed those concerns, with 66% saying neither new nor existing businesses receive sufficient support.
Craig Walker, Editor of The Press and Journal, said:
"Across the north and north-east, our readers have delivered a clear warning about the future of their town and city centres. While communities continue to value local high streets, too many people are seeing more empty premises, spending less locally and losing confidence in the places that have traditionally been at the heart of community life.
"From Aberdeen and Inverness to towns across Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands, respondents told us they are increasingly concerned about decline and the impact vacant units are having on local economies and community pride. The fact that 88% of respondents in the P&J area said empty premises are becoming more noticeable shows the scale of the challenge facing many communities.
"This survey gives people across the north a voice and The Press and Journal is determined to ensure that voice is heard. Through Fresh Start, we'll be taking their concerns and potential solutions directly to decision-makers and pushing for meaningful action to support our town and city centres."
David Clegg, Editor of The Courier, said:
"The findings from Tayside, Fife, Perthshire and Stirling are impossible to ignore. More than three-quarters of respondents in The Courier area believe their local town or city centre is struggling or in decline, while 93% have noticed an increase in vacant premises over the past year.
"Whether it's Dundee, Perth, Stirling or our market towns and coastal communities, people are telling us they want vibrant centres with a better mix of shops, cleaner public spaces and a stronger sense of optimism about the future.
"Our readers aren't simply highlighting problems. They are offering ideas and ambitions for what their communities could become. Fresh Start will champion those voices and challenge leaders at every level to deliver the support and investment needed to help local high streets thrive again."
Thomas Hawkins, Editor of The Sunday Post, said:
"What makes these findings so powerful is that they reveal a truly national picture. Although every town and city faces its own challenges, the same concerns are being raised right across Scotland.
"More than 2,200 people took part in this survey and the message is remarkably consistent. Scotland's high streets matter deeply to the people who use them, but there is growing concern about empty premises, falling footfall and the long-term future of our town and city centres. Three-quarters of respondents believe their local high street is struggling or in decline, while 91% say vacant units are becoming more noticeable.
"The Sunday Post has always championed the issues that matter most to communities across Scotland. Through Fresh Start, we are bringing together the voices of readers, businesses and communities and calling for action that can make a real difference to the future of Scotland's high streets."
The findings support the Fresh Start campaign's call for the Scottish Government to strengthen business rates relief, helping attract new businesses into empty premises and supporting the regeneration of town and city centres.
The campaign is backed by strong public support. 85% of consumers and 79% of business owners support extending Fresh Start Relief so that any new business opening in a town or city centre receives a one-year business rates exemption, regardless of how long a property has been vacant.
Through the campaign, The Press and Journal, The Courier and The Sunday Post will take the concerns and ideas shared by readers and businesses directly to policymakers and key stakeholders, while also highlighting successful examples of regeneration and innovation across Scotland.
Scotland's high streets remain at the heart of communities across the country. Fresh Start aims to ensure they have a strong future.