Overview

This bill mandates that local authorities in England and Wales designate high streets, regularly assess their condition, and create improvement plans. These plans, developed with public consultation, aim to preserve and enhance the designated high streets' economic importance.

Description

The High Streets (Designation, Review and Improvement Plan) Bill requires local authorities to:

• Designate high streets: Identify streets or networks of streets crucial to the local economy due to a concentration of high-street businesses (excluding those primarily serving businesses).
• Conduct reviews: Carry out reviews of designated high streets every five years.
• Create improvement plans: Develop and publish action plans for preserving and improving the condition of designated high streets within six months of designation, with revisions every five years. These plans must include consultation with specified individuals and groups.
• Incorporate plans into planning decisions: Consider the improvement plans when making planning decisions that could affect the high street.

The bill defines "high-street use" to include shops, offices, restaurants, entertainment venues, and compatible industrial processes. It also specifies which local authorities are covered and the consultation requirements.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly allocate funds. The cost of implementing the bill's requirements will fall upon local authorities, potentially impacting their existing budgets. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: They will bear the responsibility for designating high streets, conducting reviews, preparing and implementing improvement plans, and consulting with stakeholders. This will likely require additional resources and staffing.
• Businesses on High Streets: They will be consulted during the plan development and may benefit from improvements resulting from the plans, but may also face changes imposed by planning decisions influenced by the plans.
• Residents: They will be consulted on the improvement plans and may benefit from the improvements to their local high streets.
• Developers and Planners: Their projects impacting designated high streets will need to comply with the improvement plans.

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