Town halls would be able to seize empty shops and bring them back into use, under Labour plans to revive decaying high streets.<\/p>\n
The Independent<\/em> writes:<\/p>\n The party will accuse the government of overseeing \u201ca decade of decline\u201d that has weakened the economy and society \u2013 vowing to give local councils beefed-up powers to act.<\/p>\n It will also draw a dividing line with\u00a0Boris Johnson<\/a>\u2019s plans\u00a0for empty shops to be quickly converted into new homes<\/a>, because of a belief that fewer shops will be needed after the\u00a0Covid-19<\/a>\u00a0pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Under changes to come into force in August, restaurants, banks, gyms, creches and offices will also be fast-tracked for residential use.<\/p>\n That policy will see high streets \u201csold off to the highest bidder for poor quality housing without planning permission\u201d, the shadow Chancellor\u00a0Anneliese Dodds<\/a>\u00a0will allege.<\/p>\n Vowing to fight back instead, she will say in a set piece speech: \u201cBritain\u2019s high streets are at the heart of local communities<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt is not just a string of shops and post offices, it\u2019s a place that people want to have pride in. The high street goes to the heart of Labour\u2019s vision to make Britain the best place to grow up and grow old in.\u201d<\/p>\n