News from ViSTA
New Fund to prevent Ghost Towns
Up to £3 million government funding will be made available to stop the economic downturn from creating a series of ghost towns across England.
Grants of £1,000 are expected to be offered to temporarily turn empty shops into social enterprises, local arts displays or community learning centres.
Ministers have published Looking After Our Town Centres, a strategy outlining a number of creative ways to reduce the negative impact that vacant shops can have on both business and community confidence.
It reveals plans to “establish a fund to provide small-scale grants to help with cleaning and decorating vacant premises, basic refit for temporary uses, publicity posters, and other activities that can help town centres attract and retain visitors”.
Ministers are currently in the process of deciding how such a fund will be set up and managed.
The strategy also includes a raft of special planning changes designed to make it easier for empty shops to get turned into cultural or community hubs.
Planning application waivers will be introduced to enable councils to allow changes of use which go against local planning guidelines, whilst flexible interim-use leases and temporary leasing of shops to councils will enable landlords to make their empty properties available for alternative use until the recession ends.
For more information go to: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/towncentres
Created on May 18th 2009
Company no 6074763 , Registered Charity no 1119172, Telephone: 08453 580372
UK Learning Provider Reference Number: 10020323