Growth agenda in focus
The BCSC this week held its annual conference and exhibition in Liverpool. Among the many events was a meeting with the Local Government Association to launch a new relationship aimed at exploring new opportunities to stimulate investment in the UK’s high streets.
The BCSC and LGA said this was the latest step in a drive to get retail-led property development off the ground. It aims to help to cut through the detail of recent policy changes, to help councils and investors to find new joint solutions and to start regenerations schemes.
Investment in towns and cities remains key – despite the advance of online retailing – to retaining the vibrancy of Britain’s high streets, the BCSC says. “However, an oversupply of old, tired retail space in some locations, combined with a lack of development finance, is hampering progress,” it adds. BCSC president Peter Drummond says the organisation is committing to working with local councils across the country to better understand how the powers granted under the government’s localism agenda can be used to regenerate ailing towns.
“We are at a tipping point in the health of many town centres and a proactive joined-up approach is critical: with local, as well as central government support, the retail and development industry will respond,” he says. “Our partnership with the Local Government Association is therefore an important step to finding ways to make private and public sectors work more effectively together for mutual, lasting gain.”
Meanwhile the British Property Federation organised a debate this week in partnership with Eversheds to discuss the impact of the government’s growth agenda on Manchester property development and regeneration in the North West. The event follows Salford council’s recent announcement that it has approved plans for one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects, after earlier this year approving planning permission to expand the Salford Shopping City in Pendleton.
After a nine-year consultation, the £430 million scheme hopes to build 1,600 new homes in Salford and refurbish 1,200 existing properties. It was also create new parks and open spaces, sports pitches, community facilities and a city farm. BPF chief executive Liz Peace said the planning decision “could not have come at a better time” for the region after it was one of the places most affected by last year’s riots.
