Government to announce ‘empty shop’ measures
April 15th, 2009 | Published in Uncategorized
Government to announce ‘empty shop’ measures
Communities should use more empty shops as neighbourhood resources to help prevent town centres becoming magnets for crime, the government is to say. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears will announce measures to make it easier for local groups in England to turn stores into showrooms for local artists
They are expected to include £3m of funding, faster planning procedures and standard short-term leases. There will also be extra powers to allow councils to take over premises. Ms Blears will use a seminar of councils, business leaders, landlords and town centre managers to set out the measures later.