Two #highstreet tackling vacancy-related policy changes emerge in a week.
Both described by specialists in that area of our work as “unexpected”.
One, around “community right to buy assets of community value”…
…the other a possible ban on upward-only rent reviews in commercial leases. To be fair words used to describe this one have sometimes, so far, been – let’s say – less charitable.
There’s a way to go until implementation for both before they join the other recent initiative out there – High Street Rental Auctions – so we’ll need wait to see the detail…
But in their own way each of the three are targeted at what are seen as potential barriers to getting empty units back into play and / or the issue around what uses empty units end up being taken on by, so could, should help…?
So what’s next…?
If you’re working as a ‘place partnership’ on trying to reduce the number of empty units or improving the mix of use types in your town or city centre, what would you ask for.
As those who’ve read the ‘manifesto’ we drafted around election time, we’ve a list, headed by this:
“Ask (and resource) every local authority to report on vacancy numbers twice a year, and work with agents, landlords, businesses, community and BID where there is one to overcome barriers to let…”
So over to you #property and #place making colleagues. What’s your number one policy or regulation change ask…?
