Recommendation 125

It is common for local authorities to own property on their high streets including commercial units, mixed-use buildings and other civic and heritage assets. In its analysis of 3,200 retail premises, conducted in 2019, the Estates Gazette found that the public sector was the third-largest owner of UK high street properties, at around 16.6 per cent. 255 In some areas, such as the city of Bristol, this rose to over 90 per cent. 256 When acting as landlords, local authorities can take a “proactive” and more interventionist approach to managing their local high streets. 257