The High Street Task Force began working with Withington businesses, the community and the local council after the government pledged funding to transform town centre.
A team from Manchester Metropolitan University led by Prof Steve Millington is running the scheme on behalf of the government.
“There are 25 top priorities that we think will have the most impact, including improving the appearance of shops, the right range of retailers and good customer service”, Prof Millington said.
“But number one is whether the shops open when people want to use them?
“There might be a logic to opening at ten instead of nine, and closing at six.”
He said in Withington there had been “lots of activity after 6pm” but people had “found nothing open.”
