West of England Mayor backs high streets revival

Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, has endorsed plans by the government to cut red tape to help breathe new life into high streets.

The government’s reforms are set to unlock a new wave of cafes, bars, music venues, and outdoor dining options.

Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said: “With the summer holidays underway, more and more people across the West are enjoying our high streets and public spaces. We are lucky to have much to enjoy in our part of the world, with a cultural offer that’s hard to match, but know there’s the potential for even more.

“Towns, villages, and our two great cities are set to benefit from an overhaul of planning and licensing laws, making it easier to transform empty shops and fast-track permissions for outdoor dining and drinking. This is good news for jobs and our economy. Working with local councils, it should help make a real difference that people can see and feel in the heart of their communities.

“Not long after Motion in Bristol have shut their doors after two decades, before moving to a new site, it’s also welcome that long-standing music venues will finally be protected from potential noise complaints from new developments nearby.”

Image - Helen Godwin

The government has set out plans for a new National Licensing Policy Framework to modernise outdated planning and licensing rules—cutting the cost, complexity, and time it takes to open and operate hospitality venues, and helping small businesses grow and communities reconnect.

The reforms will make it easier to convert disused shops into hospitality venues, and protect long-standing pubs, clubs, and music venues from noise complaints by new developments – ensuring the buzz of the high street can thrive without being silenced. As part of this, the government will introduce the ‘Agent of Change’ principle into national planning and licensing policy – meaning developers will be responsible for soundproofing their buildings if they choose to build near existing pubs, clubs or music venues.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP said: “This Government has a plan to replace shuttered up shops with vibrant places to socialise turning them into thriving cafés or busy bars, which supports local jobs and gives people a place to get together and catch up over a beer or a coffee.

“Red tape has stood in the way of people’s business ideas for too long. Today we’re slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish.

“From faster café openings to easier alfresco dining, our Plan for Change will put the buzz back into our town centres and money back into the pockets of local entrepreneurs, because when small businesses thrive, communities come alive.”

New dedicated ‘hospitality zones’, will also be introduced where permissions for alfresco dining, street parties and extended opening hours will be fast-tracked – helping to bring vibrancy and footfall back to the high street. The new National Licensing Policy Framework will streamline and standardise the process for securing planning permission and licences, removing the patchwork of local rules that currently delay or deter small businesses from opening. This means that entrepreneurs looking to turn empty shops into cafes, bars or music venues will face fewer forms, faster decisions, and lower costs.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Whether it’s cheering on the Lionesses or catching up with friends, our pubs and bars are at the heart of British life.

“For too long, they’ve been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We’re binning them – to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties – not just for the summer, but all year round.

“Through our Plan for Change, we’re backing small businesses and bringing good times back to the high street.”

This transformation is already underway through the High Street Rental Auction Scheme, which gives councils the power to auction off leases for commercial properties that have been vacant for over a year—bringing empty shops back into use and turning them into vibrant community hubs where people can enjoy a meal, drink, or night out.

The plans come ahead of the launch of the government’s Small Business Plan which will deliver on the Plan for Change by setting out further steps to unlock the full potential of the UK’s 5.5 million SMEs – who collectively contribute £2.8 trillion in turnover and provide 60% of all private sector jobs.

All these plans, subject to an initial Call for Evidence in due course, will be delivered as soon as possible as part of the government’s commitment to reduce the administrative costs of regulation by at least 25%.