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<p>This Department is clear that we want all types of retail to thrive now and in
the future, and wants to support the sector as it responds to change. This is why
in March we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government
and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and promote its future.</p><p>In
addition, in Autumn budget 2018, we announced a number of measures as part of an Action
Plan, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to
support the sustainable transformation of our high streets. This plan includes:</p><ul><li>A
£675m Future High Streets Fund, to support local areas in England to invest in town
centre infrastructure, including to increase access to high streets and support redevelopment
and densification around high streets. The Fund will also support the regeneration
of heritage high streets (up to £55m of the overall Fund). MHCLG has published a fact
sheet setting out more details about the Fund<p> </p></li><li>Supporting local leadership
with a High Streets Taskforce, giving high streets and town centres expert advice
to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop
data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts<p> </p></li><li>A
planning consultation to help support change on the high street. This will aim to
make it easier for high streets to adapt for the future, with a wider range of retail,
residential and other uses. A second consultation will be published in 2019, including
how to support the more effective use of tools such as Compulsory Purchase Orders
and Local Development Orders<p> </p></li><li>Piloting a register of empty commercial
properties to support wider regeneration of our high streets and town centres<p> </p></li><li>Launching
an ‘Open Doors’ pilot in five town centres to bring empty properties back into use
by matching landlords of vacant premises with local community groups looking for space.</li></ul><p>
</p><p>This Action plan is in addition to existing measures including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>An
expert panel chaired by Sir John Timpson, whose recommendations informed the budget
package. The panel are drawing on existing evidence and their own experiences to investigate
the challenges facing our high streets and town centres and to advise on the best
practical measures to help them thrive now and in the future. We look forward to receiving
their full recommendations.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Future High Street Forum,
chaired by the Minister for High Streets. The Forum consists of developers, investors
and retailers. It provides joint business and government leadership to better enable
our high streets and town centres to adapt and compete in the face of changing consumer
and social trends.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Government support for Business Improvement
Districts, recognising the important role they play in allowing local businesses to
work together to shape and improve their high streets and towns.</li></ul>
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