high street | District Councils' Network https://www.districtcouncils.info Closer to communities Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:12:59 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://www.districtcouncils.info/wp-content/uploads/cropped-site-icon-32x32.png high street | District Councils' Network https://www.districtcouncils.info 32 32 DCN Chairman responds to the Queen’s speech https://www.districtcouncils.info/dcn-chairman-queens-speech-response/ Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:48:19 +0000 https://districtcouncils.info/?p=2832

Responding to the Queen’s Speech which set out plans across England, Chairman of the District Councils Network, Cllr John Fuller, said:

“We welcome the Government’s ambition to invest in public services to help all areas prosper and give more control back to communities at a scale that is ‘right-sized’ around the citizen, using District Councils as the essential building block to deliver stronger economies and better lives.

“It is essential that local services are properly funded. We look forward to working with government ahead of the Spending Review, to ensure district councils get the long-term funding certainty to underpin the services that we deliver for every family, in every place, to make life better for everyone.”

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party member led network providing a single voice to 191 district councils. District councils in England deliver 86 out of 137 essential local government services to over 22 million people – 40 per cent of the population – and cover 68 per cent of the country by area. They play a key role in local communities, providing services such as building homes, collecting waste, regenerating town centres, preventing homelessness, keeping streets clean and maintaining parks.

ENDS

 

]]> HIGH STREETS EMERGENCY: NEW RETAIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS HALVE IN FIVE YEARS https://www.districtcouncils.info/high-streets-emergency/ Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:49:18 +0000 https://districtcouncils.info/?p=2751

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.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party member led network providing a single voice to 191 district councils. District councils in England deliver 86 out of 137 essential local government services to over 22 million people – 40 per cent of the population – and cover 68 per cent of the country by area. They play a key role in local communities, providing services such as building homes, collecting waste, regenerating town centres, preventing homelessness, keeping streets clean and maintaining parks.

Full set of planning figures available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics

ENDS

 

]]> DCN responds to HCLG Committee report on the future of the high street https://www.districtcouncils.info/dcn-responds-hclg-committee-report-on-the-future-of-the-high-street/ Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:30:11 +0000 https://districtcouncils.info/?p=2011 [vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1 vc_col-md-1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-10 vc_col-md-10″][vc_column_text]

DCN responds to HCLG Committee

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Responding to the report published today by the HCLG Committee on the future of the high street, Cllr Mark Crane, DCN Lead for Stronger Economies, said:

“District councils are custodians of place; with housing, planning and growth powers we are best placed to lead on high street transformation. Districts are already working with businesses and local partners to improve our towns but in order to unlock our full potential, we must have the right funding, powers and flexibilities to deliver the drastic changes needed.

“As the report notes, planning remains crucial to creating the conditions where town centres thrive, and the recommendation to fine-tune and strengthen powers such as Compulsory Purchase Orders, is greatly welcomed, as is the recognition that permitted development rights undermine local strategic planning and any further extension should be suspended.

“However, in relation to funding, the DCN are clear that any conversation around business rates must recognise the transient landscape. Appropriate measures, such as the additional funding suggested, must be in place to ensure that business rates relief does not conflict with the ability to deliver key services for the residents and communities we serve.”

ENDS

CONTACT: DCN media office, 020 7664 3333

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]]> DCN Consultation Response: Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes https://www.districtcouncils.info/dcn-consultation-response-planning-reform-supporting-the-high-street-and-increasing-the-delivery-of-new-homes/ Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:17:47 +0000 https://districtcouncils.info/?p=1960 The District Councils’ Network response to the MHCLG consultation on Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes, can be found at this link.

 

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