Southend High Street 'must adapt or die to avoid crisis'

In recent years many new eateries have replaced traditional shops, with announcements surrounding new takeaways often dividing opinion among residents. 

However, a property expert and leader of Southend Council Tony Cox have both admitted that new food venues are the only thing keeping parts of the city centre alive due to the huge decline in retail shopping. 

Mr Cox believes the future of the High Street must include a mix of food, entertainment and retail and businesses must “adapt to survive”.

Southend High Street has seen an influx of restaurants and takeaways in recent years. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

He said: “The alternative is a derelict High Street. If it doesn’t adapt, it will die.

“The High Street is far too big to sustain itself just as retail. A mix of retail, leisure, and housing is the way to go.

"We all want to see our High Street thrive, but we’ve also got to recognise that it needs to adapt. That variety, including entertainment venues like Boom Battle Bar, will attract people and drive footfall.”

Several fast food chains have taken over empty shops over the last two years, including Taco Bell, Wingstop and Wagamama.

Peter Alabaster has been involved in many of the transactions which have seen eateries open in the High Street over the last 15 years. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Peter Alabaster, commercial agency manager at Sorrell estate agents, has been involved with most of the restaurant openings in Southend over the last 15 years. He says the rise in High Street food venues is a result of Government law changes as shoppers go online.

Mr Alabaster said: “The internet has completely changed retail on a permanent basis. All the shops have either gone or they’ve been made smaller – like the former Miss Selfridge store, which has been split into three shops.”

Plan Burrito is the latest addition to Southend High Street. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

To reflect the new High Street landscape, Mr Alabaster says central Government has enabled restaurants to be opened more easily in empty shops.

He said: “Central Government realised retailers were in crisis, so they made it easier for eateries to open. They know there will be demand for food places. Now, businesses just need planning consent for the extractor fans, ventilation, and signage.”

Mr Alabaster was involved in the transformation of the former Warren James store into Plan Burrito. He added: “Retailers will tell you themselves, shoppers don’t spend money.”