At the end of July, the Government announced its plans to expand Permitted Development Rights in high streets and town centres, making it easier for empty shops to be turned into new homes.

Amongst a much grander speech citing Medici, Gaudi, Nash and other ‘populists’ playbook’ urbanism references, this was almost a sidenote. Wrapped in some sensible sounding ideas to densify urban places, rather than unleashing a vibrant town centre renaissance, this move risks undermining the very high street activity that it claims to support.