As part of the ongoing ‘Levelling Up‘ mission, and set to be in force by the summer, the Government announced yesterday (14 May 2024) that new powers are to be given to local Councils and communities to help them regenerate their high streets and fill the growing number of empty shop units.
The new local authority power to “combat high street vacancy” is named High Street Rental Auctions, and it will allow local leaders who know their area best to “take control” of empty properties blighting their high streets, and rent them out to local businesses that want use them.
According to the Government, these new powers will help Councils “level up their high streets” and tackle issues that have stemmed from prolonged high street emptiness, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as low footfall – which has lead to struggling businesses, increased unemployment, and anti-social behaviour.
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⬆️ Our Levelling Up and Regeneration Act gives local communities new powers to improve high streets and fill empty shops
💰 £2 million will help support local councils to bring high streets back to life
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) May 14, 2024
So, how will it work then?
Well, according the Government, where a high street shop has been empty for over a year, High Street Rental Auctions will allow local leaders to step in and auction off a rental lease for up to five years, and as the auctions will take place with no reserve price, this is supposed to give local businesses and community groups the opportunity to occupy space on the high street at a competitive market rate.
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A new ‘trailblazer’ programme has been launched to help get the new powers up and running within a number of communities who are said to be “keen to lead the way”.
On top of these new powers announced yesterday, a new pilot programme helping to “accelerate regeneration” will also give 10 areas a share of £5 million to “breathe new life” onto their high streets by planting new trees, green walls, and green pocket spaces, and improving adjacent parks – with the 10 local authorities taking part set to receive £500,000 each.
Government allocates £5m funding to ‘breathe new life’ into Greater Manchester’s empty high streets / Credit: Google Maps | Tim Mossholder (via Pexels)
The pilot is aiming to help Councils made their high streets fit for the 21st century, and entice residents back to the shops by working in partnership with local people and community organisations to create bespoke plans.
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Five high streets in the North West – including two in Greater Manchester – three in Yorkshire and the Humber, one in the West Midlands, and one in the East of England will be awarded funding from the £5m pilot scheme.
Union Street and Yorkshire Street in Oldham town centre, and Hyde town centre in Tameside, are the two Greater Manchester areas set to receive £500,000 each.
If this pilot programme is successful, the Government has already hinted that it could be “rolled out more widely” across the rest of England.
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Emily Sergeant -
15th May 2024 
