“It’s not the strongest or most intelligent that survives, but the one most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin

It’s easy to point a finger at Amazon and the explosion of online commerce as the culprit behind this apparent armageddon. But the truth is, it’s a classic case of Retail Darwinism that’s been driven by a seismic shift in human behaviour that’s been enabled by new technology. The simple fact is that those who fail to understand these new mindsets and evolve to fit these new paradigms will fail.

Subverting Retail - the first report from our New Neighbourhoods manifesto - reveals that we are in fact entering a brave new world that requires local councils, property developers and retailers to work together to save our high streets.