Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to support (1) business organisations, and (2) community stakeholders, to ensure the sustainability of new high street stores.

A £400 billion package helped businesses impacted by COVID-19, whilst almost £8 billion has been invested in long-term initiatives to strengthen our local businesses including the 3-year Exchequer funded Transitional Relief scheme, worth £1.6 billion, which supports around 700,000 ratepayers in England. In addition to this, £830 million is currently being invested through the Future High Streets Fund helping 72 places to renew and reshape their town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

The Government is empowering community groups to thrive now and in the future. The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund to support community groups to take ownership of beloved assets at risk of closure. We recognise it can sometimes be hard for community groups to raise the funding needed to buy or renovate the asset. The Fund will support community groups and run assets sustainably for the long-term benefit of the community.

Government will also be shortly piloting up to 10 High Street Accelerators which will bring together representatives from business and the community as well as others to transform their high street.