Government plans to cut red tape to revive UK High Streets
20 Jul 2012
The Government has announced plans to cut red tape in a bid to revitalise the UK’s troubled High Streets.
With more than 11% of town centre shops currently vacant, ministers have vowed to make it easier for people to rent empty premises and open so-called temporary ‘pop-up shops’.
As part of the changes, retailers will now have up to two years to apply for planning permission instead of having to do so immediately.
The plans come in response to a report by the retail expert Mary Portas into the future of the UK’s High Streets.
Following the review, the Government revealed that it had accepted ‘virtually all’ 28 of Portas’ recommendations on how best to revive the High Street.
They included making parking more affordable and disincentives for landlords who left shops empty.
Earlier this year 12 towns, dubbed ‘Portas Pilots’, were awarded a share of a £1.2m pot of public money to rejuvenate their shopping areas.
With the help of Mary Portas and the Government’s 'High Street Tsar’, the towns will use the cash to implement the ideas proposed in the television presenter’s High Street review.