The Government has launched a £1m competition to aid struggling towns and cities across England turnaround dwindling high streets.
Mary Portas and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps have launched the competition, which will see 12 towns become ‘Portas Pilots’ taking a share of the £1m prize under a drive to restore town centres.
The move follows last year’s review by retail Guru Mary Portas commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron, aimed at halting the decline of high streets and closure of local commercial property shops.
The 12 successful localities will create Town Teams and “breathe new life” into local commercial property shopping centres. The teams will be made up of key players in their local community-such as local landlords, residents, the council, commercial property shopkeepers and the local MP.
These teams will then benefit from the support of the Minister, Whitehall and Mary Portas herself. The twelve towns will have a chance to share £1 million to help revitalise their “unloved and unused” high streets. The duo will offer the money to towns that come up with the best blueprints for their future.
Shapps said: “Our high streets have faced stiff competition from internet shopping, and out-of-town shopping centres, leaving them unused, unloved and under-valued.
“The internet is not going to go away, and so for our high streets to survive they need to offer something new and exciting.”
Speaking of the scheme, Ms Portas stated: “I am thrilled that now there is an opportunity to turn recommendations into reality by giving communities across the country the opportunity to come forwards with their vision for breathing new life into their locality.
“I want the first 12 town teams to challenge the old ways of working, experiment, take risks and reaffirm their place at the heart of the community. A place we all want to be and can be proud of,” she further added.
Successful bidders will need to show how they have the enthusiasm, energy and vision to make a real difference to their town centres and make them the hubs of their communities.
Areas will need to demonstrate how they propose to breathe new life into their high streets and commercial property shopping parades.
Mr Shapps is encouraging towns to use short YouTube clips, and not just in a staid application form to submit their pitches.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said: “The money, which will equate to almost £85,000 per town, will be given to the towns that have the most innovative ideas and show evidence of strong leadership.”
However some industry experts believe the money will not stretch far enough. The British Retail Consortium which represents Britain’s retail industry has been optimistic about the plan but pointed out that £1m spread between twelve town centres will not go far.
Portas carried out a seven-month review of the high street. She concluded that high streets need to offer more than commercial property shops, adding art galleries and gyms into the mix in a shift to a “new multi-functional, social high street.”
A full Government response to the review is estimated by the spring.
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