New report reveals huge social value of London’s high streets

29 September 2017

A new report from LSE Cities and We Made That, commissioned by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has revealed the fundamental role high streets play in delivering economic, social and environmental benefits to Londoners. High Streets for All (pdf) was produced as a response to Mayor Sadiq Khan’s call for a City for All Londoners. The report explores the threats to the capital’s high streets as well as their value and offers a series of key recommendations to strengthen and support them in the future. This methodology built on the LSE Cities’ Super-diverse Streets research project, led by Suzanne Hall, Cities Programme Director. Together with existing knowledge and new primary research, the study used this evidence to set out the strategic case for advocacy, intervention and investment in London’s high streets.

The report uses existing data and new research to examine London’s 602 high streets. Burnt Oak in north west London, Lewisham High Street in the south and Lower Clapton Road in the north east were examined in particular to represent the effects of different demographics, varying house prices and the physical changes to their built environment.