Many high streets in areas of high deprivation are seeing empty shops
boarded up because of the downturn, which is impacting on consumer and
business confidence.
The Government is determined to help ensure town centres remain vibrant
places for people to meet and shop. John Denham is today providing
£3m to help 57 of the hardest hit areas find creative ways to use
their empty shops and re-open them as facilities for communities.
Each council will receive a grant of more than £50,000 to use as they
see fit on ideas to boost town centres and transform empty shops into
something useful such as a meeting place, a learning centre or a even a
showroom for local artists.
The grants are part of a wider package of real help the Government has put
in place for town centres, including a new practical guide launched in
April to help high streets combat the recession.
Many successful start-up businesses have begun this way. Wayne Hemmingway
has recently launched his street Kiosks for aspiring designers and Neal's
Yard Remedies, the international cosmetics company, started in a disused
warehouse in Covent Garden. Many councils are taking their own action too,
for example Camden has opened up temporary 'pop-up' shops.
John Denham said:
"We know that the downturn has really hurt high streets in areas of high
deprivation across England. These grants will help to transform and re-open
empty shops as part of our real help to keep town centres vibrant and
combat the recession.
"Those councils will now be able to use our funding to come up with their
own creative ideas to transform their boarded up shops into something
useful like a learning centre, meeting place for local people or showroom
for local artists.
"There is no need to see unused shops on our high streets going to waste,
especially when we know that it doesn't take a lot to turn a vacant shop
into something beneficial for the community.
"The top tips and new support in our town centre revival guide are already
helping small businesses during this difficult time. Together these steps
will help high streets continue to be vibrant places that remain at the
heart of the community throughout the downturn."
The Government's Looking after our town centres guide was welcomed
by the Association of Town Centre Management for giving councils a host of
tips and ideas for combating the effects of the downturn. It has already
been downloaded over 9,000 times in only a few months.
The guide sets out how councils can encourage activities like traditional
retail and farmers markets, local festivals or other entertainments that
can bring added attractions to communities and high streets during the
downturn. The Government has already changed the planning rules to make it
easier to use vacant shops for a range of other purposes.
Other measures include the promotion of special temporary community leases
called 'meanwhile uses' that allow local groups to temporarily use a vacant
property rent free while the landlord seeks a permanent new business. This
means the landlord reduces his property bills costs and that the building
is maintained.
With these meanwhile leases, young people could run their own safe space
for learning and leisure; local indoor markets could be set up and local
artists could help to turn eyesores into local attractions.
In addition to the grants made available today, Arts Council England is
also announcing an extra £500,000 to help artists turn vacant high
street shops into attractive and vibrant places.
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said:
"Culture and creativity bring life to our town centres. Transforming empty
premises into galleries, studios or rehearsal spaces will help restore
confidence and regenerate local communities. Instead of boarded-up shop
fronts we want to see high streets being used by local people in a way that
will excite and engage them. Britain has a world class reputation as a
creative nation - helping our cultural talent to develop could result in
lasting benefit."
