Sixth Report - Supporting our high streets after COVID-19
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 37
10 December 2021
Government response
Supporting Our High Streets After Covid-19: Government response to the Select Committee report · published 29 Mar 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
11
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 62
With hybrid working likely to become more common, co-working spaces may offer an opportunity to...
Recommendation
With hybrid working likely to become more common, co-working spaces may offer an opportunity to attract footfall to smaller high streets and town centres. The Government should consider how co-working office spaces can be taxed fairly so as to stimulate …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees it is important to consider the impacts of flexible working on high streets and refers to flexible working regulations and a consultation on amending the existing framework, but does not address the specific recommendation on the taxation of co-working spaces.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s intentions to reform the Compulsory Purchase Order process, which is overdue. The Government must publish further detail on proposed reforms to the Compulsory Purchase Order process without delay, along with timescales for reform. It should set …
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Government Response Summary
The government response discusses existing planning considerations related to flood risk, noise, transport, and conservation areas, along with high street vacancy rates, but does not address the recommendation to publish further details and timescales on Compulsory Purchase Order process reforms.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22
Recommendation
Not Addressed
It is clear that the High Streets Task Force is highly prized and should be...
Recommendation
It is clear that the High Streets Task Force is highly prized and should be commended for its excellent work in its first two years of existence, in particularly difficult circumstances. While the focus of the High Streets Task Force …
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Government Response Summary
The government thanks the High Streets Task Force and other organisations for their work, but does not address the recommendation to review the Task Force's size, remit, and budget with a view to increasing it.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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23
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 115
We are concerned by the Government’s confirmation that change of use from office to retail...
Recommendation
We are concerned by the Government’s confirmation that change of use from office to retail no longer requires a sequential test to protect main town centre uses, and we welcome the Secretary of State’s recent commitment to us to look …
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Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation to amend the use class regime for office-to-retail conversions, instead noting a decline in high street vacancy rates.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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30
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Building on its fundamental review of business rates, the Government should conduct a full review...
Recommendation
Building on its fundamental review of business rates, the Government should conduct a full review of taxes on high street businesses to ensure that they are fair, fit for purpose in a digital era, and generate economic, environmental, and social …
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Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to a new, full review of taxes on high street businesses, instead highlighting its completed business rates review and ongoing support through the Towns Fund.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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