New measures have been announced which will help revitalise high streets.
Businesses and local communities will be helped to take control of empty shops as part of the Government plans, which will also aim to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Local authorities will receive new powers through High Street Rental Auctions to take control of vacant buildings, giving communities and local businesses the opportunity to bid for the chance to rent shops.
Meanwhile, a new £2.5 million High Street Accelerator Programme will be introduced to incentivise local businesses and communities to develop a long-term vision for revitalising high streets.
The announcement coincided with new figures that show that up to 172,000 commercial properties are empty across the UK and 8 in 10 of these have been vacant for more than two years.
The West Midlands along with the North East have the most shuttered shops, with more than 15 per cent standing empty.
Research also shows that anti-social behaviour is the main reason people do not feel safe in their local area and seeing empty shops and buildings adds further to the sense of community decline.
Alex Schlagman, Founding Partner of SaveTheHighStreet.org said: “SaveTheHighStreet.org is encouraged to see this clear focus and new funding from central government to help end the vacancy crisis facing thousands of high streets across the U.K.
“High vacancy rates create a dangerous vicious cycle; reducing the incentives for both consumers to visit and businesses to trade from a local high street or shopping centre. How quickly and sustainably we repopulate vacant space will be a key driver of success for the high street economy.
“We involve and empower members of the local community in all of our new vacancy solutions so the announcement of a dedicated ‘High Street Accelerator’ programme that supports these ambitions is timely and welcomed.”
