4x council rates for properties empty longer than 6months should help rejuvenate high streets and free up some housing for people as well.
Is there a downside?
A good sentiment, but unfortunately there are only so many retailers willing to open a physical bricks and mortar shop to go round; not every high street retail space is suitable for conversion; and the gvmt have already abolished empty property relief for business rates, meaning landlords usually become liable for the costs and devise elaborate wheezes for avoiding paying (see below), and even in some cases demolishing buildings.
The E-comerce warehouses do pay business rates too!
Granted it isn't as much as a high street sq. M. The Midlands should be doing alright as most are there.
Mmmmmm.... toast.
Woolworths , Littlewoods, BHS, and more large retailers have gone to the wall, theyre an old concept, M and S are closing stores as is Next and more large retailers, a huge loss to the governmnet in buissness rates and a huge loss to local councils who recieve less handbacks from the rates collected.Add in the landlords of both small and larger buildings who need footfall to survive, loosing a larger store, upsets the balancing act as people see empty shops and dont visit others in the same street.
Granted it isn’t as much as a high street sq. M. The Midlands should be doing alright as most are there.
Well it hasn't helped Northamptonshire council
