Work to revitalise high streets continues in County Durham

Work to revitalise high streets continues in County Durham

Owners of long-term empty buildings are being encouraged to take advantage of a range of support on offer, as a council steps up its efforts to revitalise town and village centres.

Durham County Council is contacting the owners of vacant retail units to discuss their plans for the properties, along with the steps they are taking to secure tenants or explore alternative uses.

The local authority is also raising awareness of the support it can provide to help bring long-term empty buildings back into use through its Towns and Villages programme, including grants, interest-free loans and training for new retail and hospitality businesses.

Last year, the Government granted local authorities the power to run High Street Rental Auctions if property owners are making insufficient efforts to secure tenants or find alternative uses for empty buildings. The legislation allows local authorities to auction off leases on premises that have been vacant for more than a year. It is aimed at bringing buildings that are having a negative impact on the surrounding area back into use, while helping to rejuvenate high streets and shopping areas.

This is in addition to powers local authorities already have under planning, building control, environmental health and housing legislation to tackle vacant buildings, such as compulsory purchase orders, demolition or enforcement notices requiring urgent repairs to be undertaken.

This autumn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet will consider a proposal to run pilot High Street Rental Auctions in town centres with high vacancy rates.  

Cllr Andrew Husband, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “We want our town and village centres to thrive, and we are committed to doing as much as we can to support businesses and attract investment.

“Bringing empty retail units back into use is key to creating vibrant high streets and, while we welcome these additional powers from the Government, our preference will always be to work with the owners of these buildings to find a solution.

“That’s why we are writing to long-term empty building owners and raising awareness of the support we can offer to both them and potential new tenants.”

Support Durham County Council can provide to vacant building owners and retail and hospitality businesses through its Towns and Villages programme includes:

• Property Reuse and Conversion Loan: Aimed at supporting town and village regeneration and giving derelict buildings a new lease of life, this is a repayable loan scheme on offer to both owners and tenants in areas with high vacancy rates.

• Targeted Business Improvement Scheme: This scheme provides grants to help new and existing businesses improve and extend their premises. Funding is available for external works and, in some areas, internal renovation.

• Retail Start Up Grant: This grant is open to new retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that have been trading for less than six months, subject to eligibility. Funding can be used to cover costs such as rent, rates, service charges, utilities and insurance.

• Meanwhile Uses: Aimed at bringing buildings back into use and supporting new and expanding businesses, Meanwhile Uses provides shared retail spaces and short-term tenancies at existing town centre properties.

• Community Resilience Fund: This provides grants and support to community groups to bring empty buildings back into use for the benefit of the local area.

• Free Retail Training: The Retail Hub is a valuable resource for businesses, offering a range of free courses in everything from digital media, customer services and sales to food safety, first aid and dementia awareness.

Owners of long-term empty retail units, and anyone who would like to find out more about the support on offer, can contact the council’s community economic development team on ced@durham.gov.uk.

For more information about the Towns and Villages programme, visit www.durham.gov.uk/townsandvillages.