Ailing High Streets invited to bid for £1m Government cash

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Housing minister Grant Shapps has launched a competition that will see 12 towns become ‘Portas Pilots’ and receive £1m to revive their “unloved” high streets.

The successful bidders will be given financial backing as well as advice from a Whitehall Team and retail guru Mary Portas.

Mr Shapps will offer the cash – a “golden ticket” - to English towns that come up with the "best High Street blueprints". The move follows recommendations from the High Streets Review conducted by Ms Portas and commissioned by the Prime Minister.

The 12 successful towns will create Town Teams made up of the key players in their local community, such as the council, local landlord, shopkeepers and the local MP before receiving £1 million of taxpayers’ money.

Grant Shapps said: "Our high streets have faced stiff competition from Internet shopping, and out-of-town shopping centres - leaving them underused, unloved and under-valued. The Internet is not going to go away, and so for our high streets to survive they need to offer something new and exciting.

"So today I'm offering a golden ticket to 12 town centres across the country to become 'Portas Pilots' - areas with the vision and enthusiasm to breathe new life into what should be the beating heart of their communities, and they will get Mary's and my support as they try out the ideas in her recent review."

Mary Portas said: "I am thrilled that now there is an opportunity to turn my recommendations into reality by giving communities across the country the opportunity to come forward with their vision for breathing new life into their locality.

“I hope my Review has inspired people with another vision of tomorrow where our high streets are re-imagined as destinations for socializing, culture, well being, learning as well as shopping. I want the first twelve Town Teams to challenge the old ways of working, experiment, take risks and reaffirm their place at the heart of a community. A place we all want to be and can be proud of."

Mr Shapps will give the full Government response to the review by the Spring.

A recent report by the Confederation of British Industry has revealed that retail sales fell in January and were “disappointing for the time of the year”. Falling family budgets along with  the rise in internet shopping are identified as the two main causes for the fall in activity.

Mr Shapps explained that successful bidders will need to demonstrate how they have the energy, enthusiasm and vision to make a real difference to their town centres and make them the hubs of their communities.

Areas will need to demonstrate how they plan to breathe new life into their high streets and shopping parades, but not just in a staid application form - Mr Shapps would also like to see their pitches to become Portas Pilots in short YouTube clips.