Visiting a high street in Bolton tomorrow (Saturday), , Leader of the , will announce new plans to
give councils the power to reopen abandoned shops to “revive
Britain’s struggling high streets.” The policy comes as latest
figures show that over 10% of town centre shops are empty.
Under Labour’s proposals, Local Authorities will be able to
turn “the blight of empty shops into the heart of the high
street” by giving them over to start-ups, co-operative
businesses and community projects.
Labour’s plans, which would apply to property left vacant for
12 months, would rejuvenate Britain’s high streets by bringing
back into use some of the estimated 29,000 physical retail
units which have been abandoned for more than 12
months.
This announcement builds on Labour’s five point plan for
Britain’s high streets, which includes a register of landlords
of empty properties.
Announcing the policy, MP, Leader of the , said:
“Boarded up shops are a symptom of economic decay under the
Conservatives and a sorry symbol of the malign neglect so many
communities have suffered.
“Once thriving high streets are becoming ghost streets.
“Labour has a radical plan to revive Britain’s struggling high
streets by turning the blight of empty shops into the heart of
the high street, with thousands of new businesses and projects
getting the chance to fulfil their potential.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
,
said:
"Under this Government, our high streets have suffered a retail
apocalypse. High street closures are at a historic high,
leaving too many of our once thriving towns abandoned and awash
with boarded up shop fronts.
"Labour's radical plan will turn around the mess that the
Tories have created and will give local authorities the power
to make our high streets the pride of our communities that they
once were.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
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The report also found that high street vacancy rate
rose last year to 11.5% and that 4.8% of vacant space on
our high streets has been vacant for over two years. In
shopping centres, this number is 5.8%. The full report by
the Local Data Company, “Retain and Leisure Market
Analysis”, can be found here: https://bit.ly/2WstPPL
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June 2019 shop vacancy rate was
10.3% https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49311298
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Labour’s 5 point plan to support Britain’s high
streets:
-
Ban ATM charges and stop bank branch and Post Office
closures
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Improve local bus services and provide free bus
travel for under 25s
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Deliver free public Wi-Fi in town centres
-
Establish a register of landlords of empty shops in
each local authority
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Introduce annual revaluations of business rates,
ensure a fair appeals system and review the business rates
system to bring it into the 21st century
