Yes the policy wonks have excelled themselves and have come up with: “The Town Centre First Principle encourages the public sector to continue to invest in town centres and help communities thrive.” I am sure they would argue that they always have, even if occasionally funds have been misdirected.
So what is this really about? Is it really about “adopting an approach to decisions that considers the vibrancy of town centres as a starting point”? Or is it just a sop to the medieval guild of shopkeepers, who have failed to adapt to the modern world parading their flakey business models like cattle awaiting slaughter. Government and local government are pretty poor at directing investment or picking winners, let alone able to stimulate regeneration where there are deeper or structural issues of deprivation. But they have shown themselves to be supine to the marauding demi gods of convenience shopping and the motor car.
