Plan to transform towns scarred by empty shops
BBCLandlords of empty shops would be forced to offer them rent-free to small businesses, charities and community groups under a plan to tackle the decline of town centres.
North Durham MP Luke Akehurst is pushing for a change in the law which would hand councils extra powers over premises left empty for long periods.
The Labour MP says too many towns are being blighted by empty units owned by "absentee landlords with no stake in the community", which are scarring the centres of Chester-le-Street and Stanley in his constituency.
Reform UK-led Durham County Council said it was pushing to make improvements. The government has already announced investment through its Pride of Place programme.
It said it had started a trial scheme in Stanley and Bishop Auckland, which could force landlords to hold a commercial auction to rent out any unit empty for a year.
Under the legislation Akehurst introduced into the House of Commons, local authorities would be able to take temporary control of the units to place local businesses and organisations in them while they lie vacant.
Speaking in parliament, he said: "Whether it's a small business employing our constituents, or a community organisation providing vital services for the most vulnerable, these spaces can be so much more than an empty vacuum.
"This bill presents us with two visions of our town centres. The first is all too familiar to members across this house, a ghost town of empty shops, lost potential and eerily-quiet streets.
"The second is a brighter prospect: a thriving town centre where every unit provides value for our constituents. More people coming into town to do their shopping, treat themselves and spend time with loved ones."
'Shabby and dirty'
Akehurst said the problem in Stanley was particularly acute.
"Many of the key landlords are absentees who bought their sites speculatively and have never even visited the town to see what they purchased," he said.
"When approached by potential tenants, they make wholly unreasonable rent and other demands."
The main shopping area in Front Street in the town is scarred by empty units, including a burnt-out former pub and several premises with broken windows. Some demolition is taking place.
Shoppers in the town certainly want to see change.
Darren Bulmer, who was visiting a tanning shop, said Stanley's decline was sad.
"It's ruined really, it's gone right down. It's the unemployment that's killed this town."
But he said he liked the sound of the MP's new law.
"That's what it wants," he added. "The rents are sky high now and people can't afford it."
Jan Massey, who came from Witton Gilbert to visit the post office, said the idea could help.
"It's shabby, there's nothing to pull you here, it's dirty, no offer at all is there?
"Anything that's going to help the area would be good, but it's the taxes and rents that are difficult. There's nothing here though, so generally I don't come."
Durham County Council deputy leader Darren Grimes, who comes from Stanley, said he would be prepared to look at what Akehurst's change in the law could offer.
But he believes the government is causing problems by making it harder for high streets through the recent changes to business rates in November's Budget.
"I'm not convinced that businesses can thrive in this current climate," he said.
"They said in the Budget they would be attacking Amazon, but actually now they're attacking pubs and hospitality.
"They're paying rates that would make my eyes water as well as the earlier National Insurance increase.
"There's no point allowing businesses into the properties if they can't afford to sustain themselves and hire people."
Akehurst believes his plans will supplement action the government is already taking to support the high street.
In his speech in parliament, he said reforms to rates would actually help many small businesses, while more start-up loans were also now on offer.
His bill was co-sponsored by 11 other Labour MPs representing towns stretching from Truro and Falmouth in Cornwall to Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
It is due to return to the Commons on 16 January, though it will almost certainly need government support to have any chance of becoming law.
The government says its Pride of Place programme, which includes investment in Stanley, will help high streets, while it also plans to give communities help to save pubs and libraries from closure and encourage councils to block "fake" barbers, as well as "unwanted" betting and vape shops.
The prime minister has also said changes in business rates are due to the end of temporary discounts which were offered during Covid, but they are being cushioned through a £4bn transitional scheme.
