Recommendation 118

We heard that difficulties in identifying or contacting landlords is an obstacle to reopening empty units, especially considering their role in delivering a successful high street (described in Chapter 2). The High Streets Research Network was highly critical of what it described as “dysfunctional property ownership”. 239 It said some owners are unwilling to be contacted, which is a claim supported by the British Independent Retailers Association and David Moynihan, Head of Services at Locality. 240 Brighton and Hove City Council suggested that coordinating efforts to bring underused properties back into use are hampered by the myriad of property ownership types and interests on its high street. 241