NEWS
14 ASIAN TRADER 17 OCTOBER 2025
The government has launched a
major initiative to breathe new
life into struggling high streets
and community spaces,
handing local people unprece
dented powers to shape the
future of their neighbourhoods.
PM Keir Starmer, unveiling
the Pride in Place programme on
25 September, described as a
record investment in communi
ty renewal that will support
more than 330 towns and cities.
The wide-ranging package of
measures is aimed at reversing
years of decline in local centres,
giving residents and councils
the tools to take back control of
boarded-up shops, derelict pubs
and abandoned businesses.
Among the headline reforms
are:
Community Right to Buy –
enabling residents to purchase
and revive treasured local assets
such as pubs, libraries and parks.
Stronger compulsory
purchase powers – allowing
communities to acquire
long-neglected shops and
business sites, with potential
for redevelopment into
housing, health centres or new
retail opportunities.
New planning powers – giving
councils the ability to block
unwanted retail uses, including
betting shops, vape stores and
so-called “fake barbers,” in areas
where such outlets are already
concentrated.
Community-led spending –
funding will only be approved
where local groups, clubs and
organisations have been
actively involved in deci
sion-making.
Communities Secretary
Steve Reed said the reforms
would put local people in the
driving seat after years of
decline.
“When people step out of
their front doors, they see
shuttered pubs and fading high
streets,” he said. “Yes,
communities have been
stretched – but they haven’t
given up. The government is
putting power into their hands
so local people decide how best
to restore pride in their
neighbourhoods, not us in
Westminster.”
Claims ‘Sweeping new powers’ will allow locals to take action
Government announces plans for
Government announces plans for
communities to reclaim high streets
communities to reclaim high streets
InPost UK has apologised
for recent delays, citing a
“software integration
issue”, after second-hand
shopping app users
complained on social
media, thus giving host
convenience stores
clarity on the situation.
Several users were
revealed outrage in
Facebook posts discussing
the delays in the parcel
services by InPost UK,
particularly after the merger
with Yodel.
Some claimed that drivers
had struck, hence the delays.
One wrote, “They have
merged and I have been
informed by my local Spar
that they were told by
current and previous drivers
that some drivers have
walked out over contracts.
“I have messaged Inpost
to ask if this information is
true but they have chosen
to stay silent/ignore my
message. Either way
parcels are not being
collected from lockers (I
have 2 waiting currently
in my area which have
been there for 4 days!).
“The Spar that takes
parcels near me told me
that when they reach
capacity, parcels are removed
from store but they can’t
promise when delivery will
be made.”
The post had more than
100 comments with different
users sharing their delay
stories.
InPost apologises to
furious users for delays
AB InBev tie-up
AB InBev tie-up
with Netflix
with Netflix
AB InBev has signed a global
partnership with Netflix that will see
its beer brands align with some of
the streaming platform’s biggest
titles and live events.
The brewer said the deal was
“unprecedented in global reach and
scale,” with activations planned
across its international portfolio.
The move aims to bring together
beer and entertainment “through
shared passions like sports, food,
music, and comedy.”
Co-marketing campaigns
around some of the platform’s most
popular titles, including UK-based
The Gentlemen, alongside consum
er activations, limited-edition
packaging, and digital promotions.
PayPoint BankLocal
PayPoint BankLocal
tops £1m deposits
tops £1m deposits
PayPoint has announced more than £1
million has already been deposited
through its new BankLocal service
just weeks after its launch.
The partnership with Lloyds
allows customers to deposit up to
£300 per day in cash at over 30,000
PayPoint stores nationwide using a
simple barcode.
With 99.5% of the population liv
ing within a mile of a PayPoint
outlet, it strengthens the role of
convenience stores as community
hubs where customers can access a
range of services – from parcel
collections and bill payments to
mobile top-ups and gift cards.
Morrisons cuts prices on
Morrisons cuts prices on
650 essentials
650 essentials
The mult unveiled a wave of price
cuts across more than 650 grocery
and household lines, ramping up
competition for independent
convenience retailers ahead of the
key pre-Christmas trading period.
The supermarket says reductions
average 18% and covers a wide range
of products — from chicken breast
fillets, rice, pasta and fresh vegeta
bles to laundry pods, olive oil and
cold and flu tablets. Enchilada kits
and other cupboard staples also
feature in the cuts.
The move is supported by a
national media campaign across TV,
print, digital and in-store.