But fashion retailers — another important part of the UK towns and cities — are yet to be given the support they need to thrive, experts agree. “Fashion is the weakest performing sector on the high street, with more independents shrinking than growing. If Burnham genuinely wants a high street renaissance, fashion retailers need to be part of that conversation, not an afterthought.” He also calls for business rates reform and scrutiny of the “low-value import threshold, which is flooding the market with cheap fashion that never pays its fair share of tax”. It outlines 10 steps to revive high streets, including cutting young people’s employment costs, reforming employment rights, and fixing business rates.