Everyone is worried about the future of their high streets. Across the country, boarded up shops and venues are an all too common occurrence – leading to an ever reducing footfall. As town centres decline, people lose important centres of social, retail, leisure and entertainment activity – all vital to cohesive, happy communities.
Without a change of approach, our high streets will continue to decline. The Co-operative Party believe community ownership and community-led regeneration can provide solutions to the challenges high streets face.
Community ownership enables the creation of new mixed-used civic spaces – which can provide leisure, retail, entertainment and residential offerings. This breaks the mould from the traditionally retail led high street – providing greater variety for local residents, appealing to different age groups and demographics.
This online-only Co-op Party Live: Policy event on Creating Sustainable High Streets will share details of how a Labour & Co-operative government will reduce the barriers to new community owned projects – including new rights and powers, improved capital raising options and a supportive role for local authorities.
Join us on Wednesday 8th May at 6pm on Zoom to find out more. Speakers include Jim McMahon MP – Chair of Co-operative Party & Shadow Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government; Kate McKenzie – Portfolio Manager, Power to Change and Annoushka Deighton – Friends of Stretford Community Hall and a leader of the We’re Right Here campaign.