MP Urges Council to Deploy New Powers for Town Centre Revitalization

Recent legislative changes, which enable councils to auction off leases for vacant high street retail spaces, could “create a turning point” for a town centre, according to its Member of Parliament. These new authorities, now in effect, permit local councils to offer long-empty premises for rent. Connor Naismith, the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, has called upon Cheshire East Council to utilize these powers for the former Marks & Spencer site in Crewe. He expressed his belief that this location possesses the potential to be a “real anchor for the future of Crewe’s high street”. The council was approached for a response regarding this proposal. Mr. Naismith conveyed his perception that Crewe town centre is in a “real sorry state”. He further elaborated, stating, “When I speak to people on the doorstep, it is the number one issue people bring up,” and added, “People want a high street they can feel proud of and they don’t currently feel like they have that and a great deal of why that is is because there are just so many empty shop units.” Crewe town centre has experienced difficulties in recent months. While some regeneration efforts have been completed, including the opening of a new bus station and a new multi-storey car park this year, a subsequent phase of the same development, which was planned to feature new retail outlets and a cinema, was abandoned in 2023. Cheshire East Council indicated its intention to investigate temporary applications for the site, and the council’s leader suggested that a portion of it might be designated for housing in the future. Mr. Naismith expressed his opinion that the new powers, which became effective on Monday, “strike the right balance” given the financial difficulties many councils are encountering. He elaborated that if councils were instead granted broader authority to acquire buildings, many would refrain from doing so due to financial constraints. He concluded by stating, “This is about saying that the units are more than just commercial property,” adding, “They are that but filling that unit is vital to restoring people’s sense of pride in community and place”.