Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a £210m package aimed at regenerating UK high streets by bringing derelict and empty buildings back into use, enabling community takeovers of neglected spaces and supporting businesses and buildings at risk of closure.
Burnham said empty properties could become community hubs, health centres, shared workspaces, cafés and local services. The funding is described as £125m for derelict buildings and an £85m pot for takeovers of neglected pubs, clubs and shops; it also names £65m for at-risk businesses and buildings and £20m for co-operatives and empty units, without clarifying whether those latter sums are within the £85m.
The announcement follows Burnham’s summer pledge of 20% business-rates cuts for pubs, clubs and social venues from April. Peter Kyle said Burnham needed to act with more urgency to boost growth. The Conservatives say their plan would abolish business rates for thousands of businesses and defend post offices, pubs and pharmacies.
