Mary Portas Review

[Ian Harvey]

By now, I am sure you have all had a look at the Government's response to the Mary Portas Review.

 

If not, you can read it here but a summary of the measures that may interest you will include:

• The Government want to see high streets become the "beating heart of the community", offering more than just retail with entertainment venues and leisure facilities, as well as housing and local public services.
• 100 areas have benefits from a new High Street Innovation Fund valued at £10m) focusing on bringing empty shops back into use (read the list here to see if your area is selected)
• A new National Markets Day to celebrate the role markets can play, help aspiring entrepreneurs try out their business ideas, and encourage more visitors to town centres; - interestingly this falls on the same date as National Civic Day (June 23rd!)
• Allowing the conversion of space above shops to two flats, without the need for planning permission, rather than the current limit of one
• Recognition that free car parking can have a big impact on a town centre so giving local areas free to implement controlled parking schemes that work for their town centres and in particular “local authorities should set appropriate parking charges that do not undermine the vitality of town centres”
• The Government would like to see hundreds of Town Teams - made up of key players in the local area including the council, local landlords, business owners, and local MPs (although no direct mention of communities). Civic groups should campaign to join these teams.
• The Government have said Town Teams should actively promote good design in improving the high street, the evening and night time economy, and the quality of life in general.
• The Government will run a high profile campaign to get people involved in the development of High Street Neighbourhood Plans
• In a success for our Street Pride campaign, the Government say “towns should remove street clutter to make them more pleasant for visitors"
• The Government will launch a further round of Portas Pilot for towns to bid for £1million. There will be a second round of bidding in 2012/13, with a closing date of 30 June
• However, the Government rejected the recommendation for a clampdown on shopping centres outside towns in what many felt was the most far-reaching proposal in the Portas Review. The Government believe the changes in the NPPF will manage this through local plans. We don't agree.
• We were also suprised to see the Government hand-out funding to £100k to 100 councils on the same day that over 300 area submitted bids to become a Portas Pilot. The way this funding has been allocated seems strange and the logic behind the data being used questionable.

We would welcome any thoughts you have on any fo the above or any other ways that the civic movement can work together to campaign for improved high streets.

 

Kind Regards

 

Ian Harvey

 

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Ian Harvey
Civic Voice
0151 708 9920
ian.h...@civicvoice.org.uk
www.civicvoice.org.uk

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement. We make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive. We promote civic pride.