But the high street and independent retailers are on their last legs, a great many of us don't regard shopping as a pleasent experience and prefer to buy on line. Most of us now buy music on line or via downloads, most books are bought on line, many of us buy all our shirts, pullovers socks underwear on line. I buy all electrical goods on line as well as all paper and stationary. The list goes on specialist stuff such as luggage, jigsaws, adult toys .... Shopping on line is just pleasenter, cheaper and offers a wider choice. The only retailers to grow will be those with a good on line presence.
The decline of the high street is nothing to do with costs but changes in culture and society.
I don't think you are quite getting the point.
There is no doubt that retail is changing and in many areas in decline. Clothing, Jewellery etc I think retains the personal touch because of the need for correct fit, style etc whereas electronics etc lends itself to distance selling.
The point though is demand for commercial property falls off so prices should fall. To a certain extent that is happening but there is a point to which rentals are not falling. For the SME's who may take a place on the likes of Marple precinct, they are typically units that charity shops would go for but the charity shop is at a distinct advantage. i.e. my earlier example:
They are competing for the shop on an unfair basis.
Normal company - 10k rent + 4k rates = 14k
Charity costs - 12k rent + £800 rates = 12.8k
The landlord would clearly rather take the charity shop and temporarily, the landlords get a lifeline from the charity shop. Surely, it's not doing any good if a proper business that employs staff and creates wealth gets crowded out & out bid by a charity that does nothing but help a small donkey in spain? The council don't mind this set up as it's in their interest to keep people unemployed and their rate income for charity shops is supplemented by central government but for society, it's not good.