In London, there are currently 1,204 high streets where 127,715 businesses operate, accounting for 23 per cent of London’s total businesses.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the Government implemented a nationwide lockdown in March 2020, mandating that all non-essential businesses be closed. High streets were amongst those areas with the highest proportion of businesses that had to temporarily close or pause trading, with:
- 81.2 per cent of accommodation and food services businesses temporarily closing or pausing trading;
- 27 per cent of retail businesses temporarily closing or pausing trading. [1]
The Economy Committee will look at the impact of COVID-19 on London’s high streets to understand what measures will be needed to help them survive and prosper. The guests are:
- Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills
- Patrick Dubeck, Interim Head of Regeneration, GLA
- Gianluca Rizzo, Manager, Stratford Original Business Improvement District & Brixton Business Improvement District
- Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer, UKHospitality
- Dominic Curran, Policy Adviser – Property, British Retail Consortium
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 8 September 2020 from 10:00am. In line with government advice, this meeting will take place virtually.
Media and members of the public can watch the meeting live here.
Notes to editors
- Office for National Statistics, Coronavirus and the economic impacts on the UK: 23 April 2020, April 2020
- Read the agenda papers.
- Léonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the London Assembly Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Aoife Nolan on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.