Posted: 23/04/2012
Channel Islands law firm Collas Crill is tackling challenging times on the Channel Islands' high streets at its seminars in Guernsey on 25 April and Jersey on 26 April.
Warning that Guernsey and Jersey are not immune from the crisis that has reached Britain's high streets, Collas Crill's property team will address ways to 'stop the rot' and encourage retailers and landlords to rescue this potentially fragile sector.
Just last week confidence in Jersey's retail industry was said to be at its lowest since the recession began, according to a business tendency survey. It found more businesses in Jersey had seen a drop in trade over the past three months and more than half of businesses said profits were down on the end of 2011.
Collas Crill property expert Richard Lloyd said: "Queen of Shops Mary Portas says Britain's high streets have reached a crisis point.
"After her independent review at the request of the Prime Minister, she said that unless urgent action was taken, much of Britain would lose, irretrievably, something that is fundamental to our society, and which has real social and economic worth to our communities.
"The reasons for the decline are numerous, but the economic downturn has no doubt exacerbated issues and Guernsey's high streets are not immune."
The suggestions in the Portas Review include:
Giving landlords a 'voice' in the development and rejuvenation of the high street to draw on their wealth of experience and ensure they become effective investors in the community and in the value of real estate
Reviewing lease structures, generating more flexibility and moving away from upward-only rent reviews to encourage new and small businesses to invest in premises
Providing support for imaginative community use of empty premises
Passing legislation to allow the authorities to step in where landlords are being negligent or unreasonable with empty premises
Looking to Planning Departments to relax Use Class and Heritage restrictions to allow more flexibility to change and refurbish shop/office premises
At the Guernsey event Mr Lloyd will be joined by experts Tony Rowbotham, partner at Montagu Evans, Town Centre Partnership chairman Jack Honeybill, and Dr Michaela de Vial from Island Analysis, to focus on the market for office and retail sectors, suggest ways to rejuvenate our high streets and options for landlords and tenants.
In Jersey, Collas Crill property partners Paul Harben and Martin Le Boutillier will be joined by Channel Island experts Bill Sarre, director of CB Richard Ellis, and Jo Watts, managing director of Jones Watts.
Collas Crill suggest this seminar will be of particular interest to commercial landlords and tenants, commercial property agents and managers, and lenders. However, anyone with an interest in the health of our high streets will enjoy the presentations and discussion.
For more information at to book a place email events@collascrill.com