Rotherham has been hailed by the Government as an example of how struggling high streets can be turned around.
The town, which received £100,000 in 2012 through the Portas Pilot scheme, has seen 86 shops reopen over the last two years under the council’s five-year strategy to redefine its high street.
Initiatives have included a loyalty card scheme, which is now used by more than 16,000 residents.
High streets minister Brandon Lewis and retail guru Mary Portas visited the town this week to find out more about Rotherham’s success.
‘The town has grabbed the opportunities offered to it and is a great example of how our high streets can become shopping destinations that serve the whole community,’ said Mr Lewis. ‘It’s an example to other town centres around the country.’
The last three years have seen a 13% rise in footfall and the number of empty shops has fallen by 11%.
Mary Portas said: ‘The town team have done an extraordinary job increasing footfall and reducing vacancy rates but most of all producing a place people want to shop in and feel at home in. They have huge competition from some of the UK’s biggest shopping malls right on the doorstep but they are bearing out the national statistics that people prefer high streets.’
