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<p>Town centres and high streets are a crucial part of our communities and the Government
is determined to see these areas thriving, both now and in the future.</p><p>The Department
receives vacancy rate data on retail units from the Local Data Company which has enabled
the Department to monitor the change in these vacancy rates over time at a national
level. The data demonstrates that retail vacancy rates peaked at 14.6 per cent in
August 2012. Although there have been fluctuations in the rate, it has not reached
this high point since and current figures show this rate is at 12.9 per cent in May
2019.</p><p>At Autumn budget we set out ‘Our Plan for the High Street’ to support
the sustainable transformation of high streets, including a £675 million Future High
Streets Fund, a High Streets Task Force and measures on business rates and planning.
We also launched a pilot of our Open Doors project in November 2018, which brings
empty properties back into use by linking landlords of vacant units with community
groups looking for space.</p>
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