Published: 16:51 8 May 2022
The main streets, polluted by empty shops, could be revived as part of plans to force landlords to vacate.
The government’s offer to reduce the number of vacancies gives new powers to local authorities, which will be able to hold “rental auctions” if the store is empty for more than a year, allowing community groups and independent companies to take over.
The new powers will be introduced as part of a balancing and regeneration bill to be announced in the Queen’s speech on Tuesday, and will also allow for more permanent outdoor catering introduced during the pandemic.
The prime minister said the plans would free the main streets from “abandoned shop windows” and restore the neighborhood’s pride.
Across Norfolk, businesses and council leaders welcomed the plans, as long as the limited-money councils had the resources to implement them.
In Norwich, Jamie Osbourne (Green), a county and city councilor in the Mancroft area, said he would only work if more money was given to the authorities under pressure.
He said: “We want to revive the main streets.
“It was quite disturbing to see shops closing in Norwich when he usually opposed the declining trend on the main streets.
“I think it is a good idea to give more powers to the councils, but the government must provide the authorities with limited money and resources to be able to do that.
Steve Morphy, the leader of the Labor group in County Hall, wants life back in the shops, but has concerns about the legal consequences of forcing property owners to act. – Credit: Copyright: Archant 2018
Steve Morphy, leader of the Labor group in the Norfolk County Council, said the government’s plans should be teased in more detail.
Mr Morphew said: “Everything that brings life back to the shops is great, but at the end of the day the price of life will be the biggest difference.
“Something needs to be done about the lack of stores, but the independents seem to be doing much better than the big corporate chains right now.
“The power to rent them out and force property owners to do anything can be a bit of a nightmare with legal consequences.”
In North Norfolk, the plans were met with a mixed response.
Experience Sheringham’s John Rosby says the new legislation could stop landlords or agents from holding unrealistic rents. – Credit: Archant
John Rosby of the Experience Sheringham business group described it as a “not a bad idea” that could help councils become more responsible for their urban centers.
Mr Rosby said: “Honestly, it’s hard to imagine landlords deliberately leaving their properties empty. I think that if a store is rented out, it tends to be looted quite quickly.
“But sometimes the landlord or agent can pay unrealistic rent, so this can be a way to stop it.
Ian Wilson of the Love Holt business group said that while Holt has a busy center, other major streets are struggling for a number of reasons, and just introducing one or two new rules is unlikely to revive them.
Mr Wilson said the main reason for the reduction in high streets was the increase in online shopping and new measures were unlikely to address this.
He said: “While it is cheaper to run an online business, there will be a problem on the main streets.”
Mr Wilson said owners of business units listed by inheritance avoid paying rates, which could lead to longer vacancies than for other units.
He added that while there is nothing wrong with “charity shops”, city centers need to maintain a good business mix to stay alive.
Carl Smith, leader of the Great Yarmouth City Council, says Yarmouth is already working with owners to relocate their units and is targeting 22 properties. – Credit: Archant
In Great Yarmouth, where more than 20 percent of stores are empty, the city council says it is already “before the game” with a series of projects and funding to “redirect” downtown stores abandoned by relocation. pandemic-accelerated street shopping.
Carl Smith, leader of the Great Yarmouth City Council, said regenerating the city center was already a priority in his £ 20.1 million deal for the city and funding Future High Streets, and that 22 vacant properties had been identified as ones that can be put back into use with a special focus on the upper floors and the potential for housing.
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