Chartered surveyor and former chair of CBI Wales, Chris Sutton, has warned the challenge of vacant high streets is “too big for the tools we are using” and has urged the government to take action, telling the BBC “we don’t need another report, we need implementation.”

The former chair of CBI Wales has called on the government to take action on the increasing number of vacant shops on high streets across the country, telling the BBC that legislators need to be “heavily involved” in enacting a solution.

Citing the plight of the Welsh city of Newport, which was found in 2021 to have more empty shops than any other UK city, the chartered surveyor urged governments to work with local authorities to challenge apathetic landlords and tax hurdles.

“We don’t need another report, we need implementation,” said Sutton. “Our retail centres are probably the location with the most mixed ownerships. Trying to masterplan regeneration is incredibly difficult when ownership is so fragmented.”

“We need local leadership, but also the local authority and Welsh government need to be heavily involved in this, and they really need to drive it forward… We should be incentivising private sector development through wider use classes and property taxation reform.”

With many units held on various lease lengths, and some landlords even unwilling to rent space to exploit financial loopholes, Sutton encouraged bolder tactics, such as subdividing large premises “down to smaller units” in order to encourage small businesses.

Responding to the claims, Newport councillor James Clarke said: “Transforming the city centre’s fortunes is not something that can happen overnight or by the council on its own.”

A spokesperson for the Welsh government said it was taking action, but that retail is currently “experiencing a period of challenge and change.”