Editing Streatham (section)

===Retail decline and recovery===
[[File:Pratts department store, Streatham in 1978.jpg|thumb|Pratt's department store in summer 1978. The store closed down in 1990 and the building was demolished in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark&id=3416|title=Pratt's, Streatham High Road, Streatham Central|access-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190234/http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark&id=3416|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>]]
In the 1950s Streatham had the longest and busiest shopping street in south London. Streatham became the site of the UK's first [[supermarket]], when [[Express Dairies]] [[Premier Supermarkets]] opened its first {{convert|2500|ft2|m2}} store in 1951;<ref name=BNet50>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7528_224/ai_n28873842/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708193934/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7528_224/ai_n28873842/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=It's a super anniversary: it's 50 years since the first full size self-service supermarket was unveiled in the UK |author=Helen Gregory |publisher=The Grocer |date=3 November 2001 |access-date=30 June 2010 }}</ref> [[Waitrose]] subsequently opened its first supermarket in Streatham in 1955, but it closed down in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitrosememorystore.org.uk/category_id__466.aspx|title=Streatham - closed branch|work=waitrosememorystore.org.uk}}</ref>

However, a combination of factors led to a gradual decline through the 1970s and a more rapid decline in the 1980s. These included long term population movements out to [[Croydon]], [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]] and [[Sutton, London|Sutton]]; the growth of heavy traffic on the [[A23 road|A23]] (main road from central London to [[Gatwick Airport]] and [[Brighton]]); and a lack of redevelopment sites in the town centre. This culminated in 1990 when the closure of [[Pratts of Streatham|Pratts]], which had grown from a Victorian draper's shop to a [[department store]] operated since the 1940s by the [[John Lewis Partnership]], coincided with the opening of a large [[J Sainsbury plc|Sainsbury's]] supermarket half a mile south of the town centre, replacing an existing, smaller Sainbury's store opposite [[Streatham Hill railway station]].

Several recent additions, such as [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]], [[Lidl]] and [[Peacocks (clothing)|Peacocks]], are located in new retail spaces on the site of Pratt's but, in common with other high streets, retail recovery has been slow, and a substantial proportion of vacant space has been taken by a growing number of restaurants, bars and coffee shops.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-04|title=Focus On Streatham: Where house price growth is nearly 9 per cent year-on-year, twice the London average|url=https://www.cityam.com/focus-streatham-house-price-growth-nearly-9-per-cent-year/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=CityAM|language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:Streatham Library, Streatham High Road - geograph.org.uk - 1412128.jpg|thumb|[[Streatham Library|Tate Free Library, Streatham]]]]
In August 2011, Streatham was selected as one of the areas to benefit from Round 1 of the Mayor of London's ''Outer London Fund'', gaining £300,000. Later, Streatham was awarded a further £1.6 million, matched by another £1 million by Lambeth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9175267.Town_centres_to_receive_cash_boost/|title=Town centres to receive cash boost|work=Streatham Guardian|access-date=11 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320141353/http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9175267.town_centres_to_receive_cash_boost/|archive-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The money from this fund was spent on improving streets and public spaces in Streatham. This includes the smartening up of shop fronts through painting and cleaning, replacing shutters and signage as well as helping to reveal facilities behind the high street such as The Stables Community Centre.<ref name="london.gov.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/high-streets/projects/streatham |title=Streatham &#124; Greater London Authority |access-date=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417072132/http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/high-streets/projects/streatham |archive-date=17 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Streatham Library has also undergone a £1.2 million refurbishment. The Tudor Hall behind the library was brought back into public use as ''The Mark Bennett Centre'' providing a meeting and performance space. Streatham Skyline introduced new lighting to highlight some of Streatham's more attractive buildings and monuments with the aim of improving safety and the overall attractiveness of the area.<ref name="london.gov.uk"/>