Local Government Minister Grant Shapps is urging MPs, representing towns that missed out in the Portas Pilot competition, to apply for a share of a multi-million pound fund to improve their high streets. Over 400 towns entered the race to become one of the 27 Portas Pilots and the unlucky ones are now entitled to bid to become Town Team Partners and implement key elements of their original plan.
The Minister also invited local authorities across the country to apply for their towns to be considered for the Future High Street X-Fund and win a share of the £1 million prize on offer. This will go to those areas “delivering the most effective and innovative plans to bring their town centres back to life.”
The Portas Pilot competition attracted bids of such a high standard that the Department for Communities and Local Government has decided that ‘no high street should be left behind.’ When MPs return to parliament following the summer recess, those from the areas in question will have until 16 September to nominate their towns for inclusion in the Town Team Partners scheme and benefit from the support programme available.
Alongside financial support, this includes mentoring from retail experts, regular meetings with other Town Teams and advice from the Association of Town Centre Management. The scheme is designed to provide a much needed boost to the UKs high streets, many of which have record numbers of unoccupied commercial properties.
Mr Shapps called on MPs to put their towns first so that their communities can begin to put their plans into action.
He said; “Having witnessed the overwhelming response from over 400 towns to our search for Portas Pilots, I’m determined that the energy and enthusiasm they displayed is not lost and that every area has the opportunity to breathe new life into their high streets.”
Discussing the Future High Street X-Fund, he said he was looking forward to rewarding the towns making the greatest improvements so they can ‘continue to their sterling work.’ The closing date for applications is 6 December, and the types of regeneration schemes the judges will be considering are outlined in the prospectus.
These might include projects that have created new uses for empty shops, delivered greater choice or improved the evening economy of an area. Equally, Mr Shapps is keen to stress, it could be something no one has thought of before.
Are you a commercial property occupier or landlord in any of the 27 Portas Pilot towns? What impact has inclusion in the scheme had on occupancy rates in your town centre? Tell us about the progress made in your area below.
