High Street Matters: Beyond Cars - Creating Vibrant High Streets Through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Are low traffic neighbourhoods killing local businesses, or breathing new life into our high streets?

This episode of High Street Matters explores how reducing vehicle traffic is transforming shopping districts across Britain.

Host Steve Dyson interviews Natalie Lindsay from London's Wandsworth Bridge Road Association about their journey to reclaim a busy main road as a thriving high street. Their annual street fair now attracts 20,000 visitors, proving that people-friendly spaces can increase footfall.

In Birmingham's trendy Kings Heath suburb, Henry Poultney explains how pedestrianising York Road transformed his Grace and James wine and cheese shop into a bustling café destination. With outdoor seating and a continental atmosphere, his business has shifted from 50% retail to 75% hospitality.

The episode also features Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre, who emphasises the importance of including local businesses in planning decisions, noting that "when we think about high streets we want places where people can have a sense of freedom."

Essential listening for independent retailers, local authorities and community groups looking to revitalise their high streets by putting people before cars.

Subscribe now to have this podcast sent directly to your podcast platform. Then get ready for future episodes tackling themes like accessibility, retail crime, and much more high street matters!

Hear something you want to follow up on? Listener enquiries can be sent to info@bira.co.uk.

For more on Bira's mission supporting Britain's independent retailers, visit www.bira.co.uk.

To see the full High Street Matters series visit our podcast resource page.

Want to make your retail business more sustainable while boosting profits? This episode of High Street Matters reveals how independent retailers are successfully embracing eco-friendly practices without breaking the bank.

Host Steve Dyson interviews Victoria Robertshaw, founder of Green Street, about practical ways retailers can reduce costs through sustainability.

From LED lighting to returnable packaging schemes, discover how small changes can lead to significant savings.

The episode also features Keith Hunt, owner of Our Precious Earth, whose zero-waste shop in Minehead demonstrates how sustainability can drive business success.

Learn how simple changes like switching to LED lighting can save hundreds of pounds annually and discover why customers are increasingly choosing retailers who minimise single-use plastics. The episode explores practical solutions for retailers of all sizes, with expert guidance on upcoming recycling legislation and energy-saving techniques.

Essential listening for independent retailers looking to reduce their environmental impact while improving their bottom line.

Subscribe now to have this podcast sent directly to your podcast platform. Then get ready for future episodes tackling themes like retail crime, accessibility, and much more high street matters!

Hear something you want to follow up on? Listener enquiries can be sent to info@bira.co.uk.
For more on Bira's mission supporting Britain's independent retailers, visit www.bira.co.uk.
To see the full High Street Matters series, including our March episode on exploring retail crime, visit our podcast resource page.

Step inside the mind of shop thieves as leading criminologist Professor Emmeline Taylor and Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre reveal the psychology driving retail crime.

From drug-affected persistent offenders to organised criminal gangs, understand why they target independent shops and what can be done to protect businesses.

Subscribe now to have this podcast sent directly to your preferred platform. Then get ready for future episodes tackling themes like hazardous substances legislation, the cycle to work scheme and much more high street matters!

Hear something you want to follow up on? Listener enquiries can be sent to info@bira.co.uk.
For more on Bira's mission supporting Britain's independent retailers, visit www.bira.co.uk.
To see the full High Street Matters series, including our March episode on exploring retail crime, visit our podcast resource page.