The recent news of the collapse into administration of Jessops, HMV and Blockbuster within the space of a week refocuses the question of exactly how much longer the high street can survive. At one point the lynchpin of a town with its local shops for local people, big chain stores set up shop squashing these independent stores underfoot. Now those big chains are collapsing off a cliff leaving a trail of unused gift cards in its wake.

Despite development to Manchester’s Arndale Centre, many feel that the glossier Trafford Centre offers more, although visitor numbers between the two are closer than you’d think (38m for the Arndale vs. 35m for the Trafford Centre in 2011). But development of these out of town shopping centres can be devastating to towns. Stockport’s Peel Centre, despite its proximity to the high street, caters for almost everything you can think of without having to set foot in the…