In my role as Chair of the Labour MPs group on local growth funding, the future of our high streets – and how we support retail and community spaces – is front and centre of my mind.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we must implement practical measures that help them thrive.
One key approach is offering targeted tax breaks to retail businesses that drive growth in our industrial strategy sectors and local economies.
Before my election in 2024, I was closely involved in establishing Spinners Mill – a space where independent creators and entrepreneurs could set up shop, collaborate, and sell their creative content.
It proved that when creative businesses are given the right support, entire communities benefit.
At Spinners Mill, most tenants paid no business rates at all, giving them the breathing room they needed to become profitable and financially sustainable.
This kind of initiative doesn’t just benefit individual traders – it can breathe new life into struggling high streets.
Creative enterprises offer more than just economic returns – they foster belonging, vibrancy, and community pride.
That contribution deserves to be recognised and rewarded.
When we invest in environments where small businesses can flourish, we don’t just stimulate local growth – we build stronger, more connected communities.
Supporting small businesses to forge those connections must be at the heart of our Small Business Strategy, bringing substance to the often-overused word “growth” and giving our town centres a real chance to succeed.
I will continue to champion this approach ahead of the strategy’s publication later this year.
I’m also pleased the government has committed to simplifying public sector procurement processes, making it easier for thousands of small businesses to compete for valuable local contracts.
This will unlock new opportunities, kickstart economic activity, and help create local jobs.
But none of this will matter unless our high streets are places where people feel safe.
Like this government, I am committed to making our town centres safer and more welcoming – for shoppers, business owners, and local families alike.
That’s why I continue to work closely with Greater Manchester Police, the local authority, and other partners to tackle the very real challenges of antisocial behaviour and retail crime.
These issues aren’t abstract – they have serious, lasting consequences for workers, shopkeepers, and the wider community.
I welcome the government’s proposed new Respect Orders, which will give police and councils stronger powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres, restrict public drinking, and require attendance at drug and alcohol treatment programmes where needed.
Retail crime and antisocial behaviour stifle growth, drain morale, and undermine the sense of pride that vibrant town centres depend on.
I’ve seen the toll it takes first-hand in Leigh and Atherton.
If we’re serious about revitalising our high streets, we must make safety a priority – because investment, footfall, and opportunity won’t flow into places where people feel at risk.
Creating the conditions for economic growth means building places people believe in – places where they feel safe, valued, and connected.
That’s the foundation our high streets need to thrive again.
If you are a constituent in need of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at jo.platt.mp@parliament.uk.
Note: This article was originally published on the Leigh Journal website, on Thursday 24 April, 2025.