Copyright dailystar
The UK's high street has been on its knees for, well, decades . With major brand after major brand either closing for good, or on the brink of, many are left wondering if it's even possible to fix our beloved high streets. And in a bid to attempt to find out if it's possible, the Daily Star turned to Google's artificial intelligence-powered large language model called Gemini to see just how it could be done – if at all. Gemini, while warning of a possible "total collapse", came up with five main points that need solving in the next 10 years before we end up with more big names going the way of Topshop, Claire's, and more. The five key points were about diversifying the offering and embracing "experience" over "pure retail", transforming vacant properties and implementing flexible planning, reform business rates and improve financial models, invest in the public realm, accessibility, and safety, and empowering local communities and supporting independent businesses. On the first point, Gemini claims that the high street needs to shift from being purely about shopping to becoming mixed-use destination centres that offer a variety of services, leisure, and community activities, which involves encouraging more food, drink, hospitality, entertainment, and cultural spaces It said: "Retailers must also focus on creating a unique, in-store customer experience that cannot be replicated online. "Converting empty retail and office units into residential accommodation to increase town centre population and footfall (is also a key factor, as is) simplifying and streamlining planning regulations to make it easier for buildings to change their use." And in a bit of a warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, it warned that business rates needed overhauling to "reduce the financial burden on physical retailers, particularly small and independent businesses, and create a more level playing field with online-only competitors". Looking further afield, tackling anti-social behaviour and retail crime to make the high streets feel safe and welcoming for shoppers and staff was a common theme in the analysis, as was giving local authorities and communities greater power and funding to "develop and execute a cohesive vision for their high street, ensuring the mix of businesses meets local needs". It added: "(Government needs to) provide support, funding, and mentorship for independent and start-up businesses which often bring unique character and local-first employment to the area. "It also needs to introduce initiatives like the 'Community Right to Buy' to help local groups take ownership of treasured community assets like pubs and shops." Whether or not any of this would work remains to be seen, but it gives a lot of food for though that should be heeded before it's too late – unless it already is. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
