Big ideas needed to freshen upour high streets

In cities and towns outside capitals the opportunity exists to create environments that turn old shops into internet-ready retail outlets, writes Joe Gill.

During the last week, it was reported that a key UK retailer, House of Fraser, was shutting a large number of stores.

Aside from struggling with a significant amount of debt, this shopping company is also bearing the brunt of a structural change in the way we all are purchasing items. That shift has deep consequences for urban planners as they design towns and cities for the future.