Recommendation 12

HM Government Acknowledged

The Build Back Better High Streets Strategy represents the Government’s high-level, long-term vision to support the evolution and regeneration of all high streets into thriving places. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all activities that contribute towards achieving the vision outlined but instead sets out a series of new and existing ambitious measures to help our high streets become clean, green, mixed-use spaces. Many, diverse sectors will contribute towards achieving this vision. The Government fully recognises the significant role that both markets and heritage can play in making successful places for the people who live and work in them. Markets play a critical role in providing start-up business opportunities. The Government also recognises the social value of markets, which can bring a unique contribution to a place in terms of diversity, vibrancy and a sense of community. We have a close working relationship with stakeholders from the retail markets industry and engage with them on a regular basis, including through the Retail Markets Forum. In December 2021, we made permanent a time-limited permitted development right allowing outdoor markets to be held by or on behalf of local authorities, following the success of the temporary right implemented in June 2020. This right was initially in place until 23 March 2021 and was subsequently extended to 23 March 2022. DLUHC has made this right permanent for an unlimited number of days, in order to support communities to hold outdoor markets and encourage the use of outdoor public spaces, both to support public health initiatives and the recovery of the high street. We will continue to be supportive of the role of markets in high street recovery and regeneration. However, it is for local areas to determine how best markets can form part of a holistic strategy for mixed-use high streets. As the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy demonstrates, Government recognises the importance of heritage assets in driving economic and social growth. Regenerating heritage assets can not only revitalise places, but local communities too, instilling pride in place and a shared history, enhancing wellbeing, as well as generating more footfall and economic activity. To help bring about this change, Government has been supporting heritage-led initiatives that put historic buildings and heritage assets at the heart of regeneration schemes. This includes the ongoing £95m High Street Heritage Action Zones programme (HSHAZ) operating in 67 places across the country and the £15m Transforming Places Through Heritage programme being delivered by Historic England and the Architectural Heritage Fund respectively The Burges HSHAZ in Coventry, run in collaboration with Historic Coventry Trust and Coventry City Council as an early demonstrator to the other 67 places has most recently won a Future Cities Forum Summer 2021 Award under the ‘High Streets’ category. These programmes are making places more economically active and attractive as well as engaging local communities in the regeneration of their places. Government will support these schemes as they continue to deliver for communities across the country.