Poyntons is a multi-disciplinary, commercial and residential practice offering valuation, rating and conservation service advice to a range of clients. The Consultancy is well placed to offer advice on distressed town centre retail cores.

 

Poyntons have conducted a number of extensive surveys nationally of city and town centres, where commercial and retail activity has been greatly reduced by a combination of out-of-town shopping developments, internet retail competition and more recently the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

Working with Historic England in Heritage Action Zones, Poyntons are able to identify under-utilised and vacant space within the affected area which could be re-used and therefore produce additional tax income for Unitary and Local Authorities.

 

Re-using space that has already been constructed also ticks many boxes in the green agenda by providing an environmentally sound a sustainable solution for new homes.

 

Typically, a survey in a medium sized city centre can cover an area of over 70 acres and involve statistical analysis and inspections of over 500 properties to calculate the potential the space has for re-population especially with regards to the upper floors.

 

This information is then used to calculate the net difference in revenue which would be made, increased Council Tax receipts for apartments and residential development on the upper floor.

 

Additional benefits of this are also claimed to the Local Authorities for distribution to the elected councillors. This could involve consideration of the Future High Streets Fund. Bringing back the upper floors is only one part of a master plan.

 

Rishi Sunak is keen to avoid the use green belts when brownfield sites are available to redevelop for housing. Upper floor space of course is just that. For an estimate of how much your town or city centre survey could cost, please contact James Fairman for a free estimate. You can see the potential that your town centre has.