{"id":4022897,"date":"2019-02-08T16:40:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T16:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buyassociation.co.uk\/?p=4022897"},"modified":"2019-02-08T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2019-02-08T16:40:00","slug":"moves-under-way-to-revive-the-british-high-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buyassociationgroup.com\/en-au\/news\/moves-under-way-to-revive-the-british-high-street\/","title":{"rendered":"Moves under way to revive the British high street"},"content":{"rendered":"

Could a government scheme give the UK\u2019s high streets a much-needed facelift and bring people back to live in them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2018 Budget<\/a> included an announcement that a \u2018Future High Streets Fund\u2019 would be set up, armed with a fund of \u00a3675m. Local authorities were invited to apply for portions of the fund, and the signs are that there has been a substantial response ahead of the closing date of 22 March.<\/p>\n

Big names and independents desert high street<\/h4>\n

There has been a general decline in the British high street for some time, with out-of-town shopping developments taking footfall away. Smaller chains and independent shops have been hot hard, but recent years has seen a swathe of big names also affected \u2013 Debenhams, HMV, BHS and many other established brands have struggled.<\/p>\n

As a result, the sight of shops lying empty has become sadly familiar. And along with former shops, spaces above them have also been emptied, but one aim of the fund is to help move towards such spaces become residential units.<\/p>\n

The 50,000 shops that lie empty<\/a> were dubbed the \u2018biggest untapped resource for new residential development in the UK\u2019 by a recent survey. Converting shops and the spaces above them into homes could help address the housing shortage to some extent.<\/p>\n

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth Jake Berry recently told Yahoo that,<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t claim that this fund is going to be the panacea that is going to fix every single high street up and down the country. But from my point of view, it\u2019s a good start.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

I\u2019m determined to see high streets in the #NorthernPowerhouse<\/a> and across the country thrive both now and in the future. Read my interview with @wizbates<\/a> backing the @yorkshirepost<\/a>\u2019s excellent campaign championing the region\u2019s high streets here: https:\/\/t.co\/voglrOVmAc<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jake Berry MP (@JakeBerry) February 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n