DISTRICT COUNCILS – ‘HIGH STREETS EMERGENCY’: NEW RETAIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS HALVE IN FIVE YEARS

Struggling high streets face a fight for survival after new analysis by the District Councils Network (DCN) found that the number of planning applications for new retail units has almost halved in five years.

There were 1,258 applications received by district councils for retail and service developments in the year ending June 2019, down from 2,216 in the year ending June 2015.

DCN, which represents 191 district councils, says the figures show that high streets are in a state of “emergency”.

The analysis of government figures for England also shows planning applications for new housing have slumped to a four-year low.

District councils received 31,073 applications for new homes in 2019 – the lowest since 2015.

DCN says the figures reflect the ongoing economic uncertainty and falling confidence from developers in the housing market.

It is calling on the Government to give all districts the long term funding they need to revive high streets, and to give them flexibility to raise finance locally for instance to set business rates relief.

In addition, the DCN is calling on the Government to ensure the continuation of the New Homes Bonus – money for areas where new homes are built – to ensure councils have the funding to deliver services and attract the new investment critical to thriving communities.

Cllr Mark Crane, DCN Lead for Stronger Economies, said:

“These figures paint a worrying picture about the future of our high streets and town centres, and highlights the uphill battle we face tackling the housing crisis.

There are huge opportunities to reshape places into thriving community, cultural and employment hubs – by investing in new housing, infrastructure, services and events.

“However, district councils, which are responsible for delivering housing and improving high streets, need the funding certainty and powers to transform town centres, to attract investment into infrastructure, and to build new homes.

“While there is a growing amount of energy and schemes invested in tackling these issues from Whitehall, the national complexity and focus on short term results risks under-utilising the ambitions of district councils to deliver change over the long-term.

“Without new powers and long term funding for local areas, our country will continue to struggle to turn around our town centres and face real difficulties tackling the housing crisis.”