To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that High Street stores are not empty.
Answered on
20 March 2018
Issues about individual high streets are for the relevant local authority to address. They are best placed to determine how to help their local high streets, ensuring that their high streets meet the needs of the local community and maximise local growth in their areas. Ultimately, if a high street is to flourish, then local people, businesses and councils in an area need to work together to develop their own unique offer for the high street that resonates with the local community.
However, this Government is committed to supporting diverse high streets with a broad range of retail, service businesses, leisure and residential. High streets are a crucial part of our local and regional economies, and we want to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time, and that includes a welcoming and safe night-time economy. Since 2010, the Government has helped create over 360 town teams, and given over £18 million to towns, funding successful initiatives such as “Love your Local Market” and the “Great British High Street”.
The Government does recognise that this is a difficult time for high streets and has taken significant actions to help them adapt and thrive. In England, these include introducing permitted development rights to allow certain changes of use without the need for a planning application, enabling businesses to respond quickly to changing market demands, and avoiding premises being left vacant. Separately the Government is consulting in England on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that will require local planning authorities to plan proactively for retail centres in a way that can support their continuing vitality and viability.
Earlier this month the Government announced the creation of a Retail Sector Council. Through the Council, the Government and retailers will work together to contribute to the retail sector’s future direction, and to boost its productivity and economic health.