Councils must encourage landlords to repurpose empty shops, says Timpson

Local authorities must motivate landlords and tenants to use vacant stores “innovatively” to revive the UK’s high streets, according to a new report led by retail boss Sir John Timpson. The report on reviving the UK’s high streets, by the high streets expert panel, suggests special terms should be offered to community businesses or other traders with social purpose if deals cannot be struck at market rent. The panel endorsed the government’s initiative to pilot its Open Doors brokerage approach, which matches landlords of empty units with community groups looking for space, but said it wanted to “see this go further across the country and sustained over time”. Communities must lead the effort Timpson said: “Reimagining our town centres should not be seen as a central programme dictated by government. It is a series of locally inspired and led initiatives that are supported by a government that offers information and helps to clear obstacles out of the way.” He urged the government to empower local leaders to rejuvenate town centres and high streets through an “upside-down government”. This would involve giving communities more power to design future town centres that can recreate a “community hub”. These hubs would comprise a mix of offices, residential, leisure and sport, culture and arts, entertainment and medical services, as well as retail. ‘We have more shops than we need’ Timpson said: “We have more shops than we need and are short of housing in many parts of the country. “It seems obvious to us that part of the retail estate should be converted into residential property where there is a housing shortage.” Some of the report’s recommendations are immediate measures, such as a “national high street perfect day”, a locally funded initiative tackling litter and graffiti so the town centre looks “the best it possibly can” for a day in the year. The report also backed the £675m fund announced in the Autumn Budget for the Future High Streets Fund, which will finance high street improvements at a local level. It also recommended the creation of a town centre task force, and encouraged local authorities to review parking provision in favour of local businesses to boost footfall. Timpson said: “When the panel was formed, we knew high streets would never be the same again, but we were delighted to discover places where imaginative developments have increased footfall and reduced the number of empty shops. “By helping our towns create their own individual community hub, I believe we will have vibrant town centres to provide a much-needed place for face to face contact in the digital age. “I have learnt, from my own business, that the best way to get things done is to give people on the frontline the freedom to get on with the job in the way they know best.” How the industry reacted The British Retail Consortium welcomed the recommendations, but highlighted the continuing call for reform where high business rates are concerned. Tom Ironside, director of business and regulation at the BRC, said: “The final report contains strong advice on how to ensure that that funding is used to best effect, notably through the oversight of the high streets task force and practical measures for local leaders to implement in their local areas. “At the same time, it is essential that the government takes additional robust steps to provide real support to struggling high streets. Most importantly, wholesale reform of business rates is needed for our towns and high streets in order to thrive. The issue remains that the business rates burden is simply too high and disproportionately impacts the retail industry. High streets minister Jake Berry said: “High streets and town centres play an important role in the life of our communities. “We have already taken action by announcing plans to set up a future high streets fund and task force, alongside slashing business rates for up to a third of small retailers. We will carefully consider these recommendations.” To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette