Could Portas really hold the key to town?

There was a palpable sense that something rather different was happening as Mary Portas bustled into a packed committee room in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

There to glean views and case studies ahead of her imminent High Street Review, Portas gave short, punchy statements and points of action that contrasted sharply with the usual vague debates the chamber is used to. A politician, Portas is not.

Like her or loathe her, the self-styled “Queen of Shops” certainly has strong opinions as on how to revive Britain’s ailing high streets. Encouragingly for fresh produce, she told me she “loves greengrocers” and believes markets are a genuine driver of footfall, although not an anchor for planning developments as has been suggested in the past.

One of Portas’ ideas is to encourage new businesses through rate breaks on rent and parking in town centres, possibly transferring these parking rates to out-of-town developments.

However, in an economy where the government is doing all it can to keep big business on these shores and ensure job creation continues, is it really likely to do anything to impinge on large-scale developments?

Perhaps only making planning permission for smaller supermarket stores easier will bring back footfall to many high streets, with other, speciality food or non-food shops clustering around them. Out-of-town centres are a social destination, but supermarkets are a weekly essential.

Portas admits her review isn’t the first to attempt to revive high street trade - but most hope it will be the last.