Ghost town revival plans

Empty shops could be coverted into social enterprises and learning centres in a bid to help prevent further deprivation in the borough's high streets.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today announced that temporarily converting empty shops into social enterprises, local art displays or learning centres will help innovative communities prevent high streets declining.

The Government is also announcing new measures and up to £3million to help communities find creative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops have on the high street - vital for town centre and business confidence.

The new provisions including special planning application waivers, standard interim-use leases, and temporarily leasing shops to councils will allow empty shops to get makeovers for use as cultural, community or learning services.

Councils can also use licensing powers positively to permit things like farmers markets that bring local produce to the high street.

The Government will introduce new rules soon to give existing shops that serve the community such as local post offices and pubs extra protections. These steps are part of wider action to help business during the downturn.

Hazel Blears said: "Town centres are the heartbeat of every community and businesses are the foundation so it is vital that they remain vibrant places for people to meet and shop throughout the downturn.

"Empty shops can be eyesores or crime magnets. Our ideas for reviving town centres will give communities the know how to temporarily transform vacant premises into something innovative for the community - a social enterprise, a showroom for local artists or an information centre - and stop the high street being boarded up".