So £1.5 billion in funding for 75 communities. It ought to be enough for a fraction to be allocated to tackling #highstreet vacancy and finally get the long-stuck national rate off 14% into single figures.
If every one of the 75 listed locations that has vacancy in the mid / high teens or over 20% gets a positive, proactive ‘place partnership’ on the case, that’s exactly what will happen.
So will it…?
The government announcement and follow up guidance is understandably general given that the key message is that it’s for local people to decide.
But given how often empty shops and frustration with the mix of uses in town and city centres comes up in consultation, conversation, surveys and media reports, it’s surely going to be a priority in all the places where vacancy is at significant levels.
“Local people to see their high streets revived, community hubs saved and public services transformed and strengthened through the Plan for Neighbourhoods…”
That’s the aim. Now for the detail.
Residents and businesses agree tackling vacancy is important. Getting #retail, #hospitality, services and that list of other uses from arts & crafts through community to health & wellbeing in. It makes a huge difference to the look and feel of our places, their vibrancy, vitality and resilience, to confidence, morale and inward investment, to how often we want to go in and stay for, and whether or not we encourage others to.
Crucially we know how to do this. Places can target halving their vacancy rate in 18 months, some will do it faster.
Surely, surely it’s time. Or is it just me…
