For the past 20 years or more, people have been sounding the death knell for town centres with a grim kind of fascination. Swindon has certainly not been exempt from that, and at the last count, there were more than 50 retail units standing vacant in the town centre.
Of course, the difficulties of the past two years have brought that into sharp focus, but perhaps that just makes it all the more important to think now about what we need from a town centre in the 2020s. Let’s do a little crystal ball-gazing and see if we can work out what the future holds, not just for Swindon but for town centres in general.
A new focus from big brands
Today’s customers don’t want to browse through aisles of products any more than retailers want to carry them in stock, pay overheads to display them and get them mauled, dropped and damaged by weekend window shoppers. It’s inefficient and online shopping is better for all concerned.
That doesn’t mean an end to shops, though. Those same brands still want to engage and interact with customers. However, you can expect their future high street outlets to be slimmed-down affairs with just a few hero products on display and virtual displays to showcase the rest. The emphasis will be on service delivered by well-trained brand ambassadors instead of overworked shopfloor staff.
Gambling will still have its place
We've all heard cynical phrases like "nothing left but betting shops," as if that is tantamount to the collapse of civilisation. The truth, however, is that despite all the hype about sports betting becoming more popular, that popularity stems from online alternatives. Indeed, the traditional high street bookie is likely to become an endangered species as people instead check Unibet betting odds and the like on their phones and simply place their bets online.
That’s not to say betting companies will no longer want to gamble on high street outlets. The gaming side of betting has also escalated in popularity, and while that can also be done online, those who do so are also attracted to the “James Bond” experience. Expect to see the casino brands moving into the town centres from the outskirts with their combinations of slots, table games, live entertainment and dining.
More residential development
In the 1970s and 80s, the houses in central Swindon were demolished to make way for retail developments. Now take a look to either side as you drive down Princes Street and what do you see? Expect more of those sleek residential apartment blocks over the next decade.
Speaking more generally, many claim that what’s killing the nation’s town centres is a lack of people. Giving them places to live seems like a logical way to tempt them back and bring town centres back to life. It would also allow for real thoughtful town planning, based on our 21st century needs. From that, businesses that are truly viable, be they restaurants, hairdressers, health facilities or indeed casinos, will have a chance to flourish.
