Do you work in Town Centre Managment or for the local authority?
I work in Town Centre Management and am keen to fill some empty shops in a particular area of town. I wondered whether any of you have managed to convince the Council to accept zero business rates in some shops and the types of advertising you have done to attract community groups in empty shops.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Courtney Bennett on -
Hi Candice
Thank you for your message on the forum. Meanwhile Space have assisted in enabling just this sort of use. We helped Hastings Borough Council to set up the Nomad Centre in the middle of town and we have just opened another site. In these premises we have applied for and succeed in getting exempt from paying business rates by using the Meanwhile lease (also available on the Meanwhile website)... engagement with the business rates team at the earliest possible moment is crucial.
I know that my colleague Eddie Bridgeman has been talking to colleagues of yours in the East of England about this exact issue and we are very happy to help further.
Meanwhile Space deliver the Meanwhile Project and we have a number of case studies on the Meanwhile website. In the meantime I will try and get a copy of the Hastings case study over to you. I can put you in touch with officers from Hastings Borough Council who were involved in the process if this would be helpful?
It would be very interesting to hear how others on the forum are tackling this issue.
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Permalink Reply by Popupspace.com on -
Hello Candice,
We're working with Ealing Council in developing an Empty Shop Scheme. We did explore the idea of the Council granting business rates exemption but did not get a positive response. I'd be really interested to hear about any progress you make in this area. The objective in Ealing is similar to your own - to attract and create opportunities for local artist and community groups. I have been carrying out consultation with local property owners and agents and have had success in obtaining agreement that empty shops can be used in return for payment of business rates. I have identified a couple of local arts charities who have been prepared to take on leases and manage the empty shops. They qualify for 80% business rate relief and also have a pool of members/potential end users who want to use the spaces for creative projects.
Jess, please would you be able to send me a copy of the Hastings case study? The success you have had with the Council there in terms of waiving business rates is very impressive and I'd like read more about how it was achieved. Thanks!
Rosie Cann
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Permalink Reply by ruth on -
Hi,
I work in Bristol City Council as Neighbourhood Arts Officer and I have been doing alot of work around getting temporary use of buildings by artists (both council owned and private). Our business rates policy offers arts organisations 100% rates relief (subject to fullfilling a few criteria) and is hugely useful in terms of getting projects off the ground, making projects financially viable and negotiating with property owners (covering the costs of the rates they are incurring as their building sits empty). We have also run an empty shops fund and have had some really interesting projects.
if you want to have a chat about this, please get in touch 0117 9224642
cheers,
ruth essex
Popupspace.com said:Hello Candice,
We're working with Ealing Council in developing an Empty Shop Scheme. We did explore the idea of the Council granting business rates exemption but did not get a positive response. I'd be really interested to hear about any progress you make in this area. The objective in Ealing is similar to your own - to attract and create opportunities for local artist and community groups. I have been carrying out consultation with local property owners and agents and have had success in obtaining agreement that empty shops can be used in return for payment of business rates. I have identified a couple of local arts charities who have been prepared to take on leases and manage the empty shops. They qualify for 80% business rate relief and also have a pool of members/potential end users who want to use the spaces for creative projects.
Jess, please would you be able to send me a copy of the Hastings case study? The success you have had with the Council there in terms of waiving business rates is very impressive and I'd like read more about how it was achieved. Thanks!
Rosie Cann
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