The comeback kid?

Our high streets aren’t dead. They’ve just been waiting for better ideas.

And right now, we’re starting to see them.

Retail demand is up.

Office demand is up.

Investment interest is climbing.

According to Rightmove’s latest Commercial Insights Tracker, high street retail enquiries have risen 35%, office space 65%, and high-street investment specifically is up 56% year-on-year, the highest since 2021.

At the same time, Government is finally doing something useful: cutting through red tape and making it easier to open new cafés, bars, venues and flexible spaces on the high street.

The new National Licensing Policy Framework will simplify and speed up the planning process. No more being blocked by a postcode lottery of local rules.

Meanwhile, the High Street Rental Auction Scheme is gaining traction.

It gives local authorities the power to take long-term empty units and auction off leases, not to the highest bidder, but to the most viable operator.

It's a rare example of policy genuinely designed to get things moving.

This isn’t just about regeneration. It’s a commercial reset.

And the opportunity isn’t limited to hospitality.

It’s there for any brand with the creativity and courage to rethink its presence.

Online retail has plateaued at around 27% of total sales.

Digital-first brands are opening physical spaces not to replicate ecommerce, but to do something it can’t: deliver experience, presence and cultural credibility.

If you're a multi-location brand still treating your store network as a static asset, you’re behind.

Because this moment isn't about taking space for visibility.

It’s about building relevance on the ground.

That means stores that host, connect, support service, not just transact.

It means spaces that reflect local context, not just national brand guidelines.

And it means moving quickly.

The best locations are already being snapped up by brands who understand what this could be.

Take Ted Baker.

After shutting down its entire UK estate in 2024, it’s now planning a return, but not with the same tired model. Their relaunch will join a wave of British brands returning to the high street after collapse, including T.M.Lewin, TOPSHOP, M&Co - all of which have opened or plan to open new locations under new ownership or revised business strategies.

What’s happening on the high street isn’t a rebound. It’s a reframe.

And the brands that understand that, and act on it, will be the ones shaping what comes next. There's plenty of High Street Positives about!

If your brand is looking to do something genuinely different, get in touch. We Are Acuity have over 25 years experience in driving local retail for independent and multi-location brands , you can learn more about the services we offer by clicking here.

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