All over the shops - could Heswall take advantage of the government’s new plan to fill empty units?

Above: empty Heswall units waiting for a good idea

In the recent Queen's Speech the government unveiled a plan to make it easier for would-be retailers and service providers to occupy shop units that have been boarded up for longer than six months.

The idea is to force landlords to let out retail units and enable community groups and small businesses to take them over and hopefully turn them into thriving operations that increase footfall on high streets and encourage people to 'shop local'.

The new powers emerged as part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Countrywide, the number of empty shops has risen sharply since the pandemic, with many shut down during lockdowns failing to reopen, not least because even more people got into the habit of shopping online.

According to the British Retail Consortium, one in seven of our shops is now busy doing nothing.

Since the NatWest went west no one has found a use for it

Under the new plan, local authorities will be able to force landlords to rent out commercial property on high streets through a Compulsory Rental Auction.

After a short grace period for landlords to fill the shop, local authorities will be able to instigate an auction, inviting bids from interested parties - in other words, people who think they have the ideas and the drive to deliver a viable little business.

All of which seems to make sense - but it's no use taking on an empty unit with a business idea and plan that aren't full of possibilities and potential.

Heswall has several units festooned with To Let signs, and it would be great to see some or all of them spring back into life.

So if anyone out there has ideas about what the town needs and what might work, and is willing to share them, please let us know by clicking or tapping here.

Under no circumstances will I steal the best idea(s) and become obscenely rich.

Honest.