Town Centre Regeneration 2022-05-16
2022-05-16
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP seeks to understand the steps being taken by the government for town and high street regeneration.
What steps his Department is taking to help support the regeneration of towns and high streets?
Regenerating our high streets and town centres is essential to the Government's commitment to levelling up the country. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill includes measures to tackle vacant properties, improve compulsory purchase powers and make temporary pavement licensing permanent. It builds on the comprehensive funding package already announced, including the £3.6 billion towns and future high streets funds, the £4.8 billion levelling-up fund and the recently launched £2.6 billion shared prosperity fund.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP acknowledges the government's efforts but seeks more specific measures to incentivise property owners to bring derelict spaces back into use and make it easier to use enforcement powers.
What more are the Government doing both to incentivise property owners to bring derelict spaces back into use and to make it easier to use enforcement powers where owners prove unwilling to do so?
My hon. Friend is completely correct. It was a pleasure to join the Cabinet meeting in Stoke last week and talk about how we drive forward regeneration there. Stoke is really powering ahead, and the measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill—particularly those to reform compulsory purchase orders and crack down on empty shops—will help things go even faster. That is in addition to the specialised support that Stoke-on-Trent is receiving through the high streets task force. I have also set up a meeting next month with all the infrastructure and regeneration bodies across Government to plan how we can build on Stoke's three levelling-up fund successes.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP inquires about the Burton town deal board's efforts to submit a plan for regeneration, seeking information on the government's thoughts and approval timeline.
Can my hon. Friend offer any thoughts on Burton's plans, and can he give an indication of when approval might be granted so that we can crack on with levelling up in our area?
I praise the proactive approach that East Staffordshire Borough Council has taken, which includes working cross-party to build consensus. Its plans for the riverside regeneration in particular will be absolutely transformative. The business case documents are currently being reviewed by officials, and I hope to be able to sign those off shortly so that the projects can get under way.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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The MP requests the establishment of a levelling-down fund to demolish old, undesirable structures in town centres.
Will the Minister please put in place a levelling-down fund that will allow us to destroy some buildings, such as the bingo hall in Hannah Street in Porth?
At the same time as making an amusing point, the hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. The powers for compulsory purchase will help to unlock sites, including sites that the hon. Gentleman mentions which need fundamental change. The funding schemes we have put in place—the shared prosperity fund and so on—will help put financial firepower behind those regeneration schemes, too.
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Assessment & feedback
Levelling-down fund establishment request
Compulsory Purchase Orders
Regeneration Schemes
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The MP proposes the use of remote work spaces to repurpose old retail units for new employment opportunities, inviting government members to an event on this topic.
Would the Minister, and indeed any Member across the House, like to come to my Work Hull: Work Happy event on 23 June at 11 am to find out more about the benefits of remote working for productivity and opportunity?
It sounds extremely interesting, and I would be very interested in coming along. The hon. Lady is completely correct that remote working is potentially a really powerful driver for levelling up, and some of the measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, such as repurposing shops through the high street rental auction scheme, can potentially be really transformative for our high streets.
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