Purpose

This report will seek approval to apply NNDR
Business Rates relief underutilised commercial premises in non-high
street locations.

Decision

Summary of Decision
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform
approves the application of the Business Rate NNDR
“Localism” allowance of up to 100% of the net business
rate liability to the ratepayers of eligible and approved premises,
for a maximum period of two years.
 
The Cabinet Member approves the piloting of
meanwhile activation for two vacant sites and in principle the
outline approach for applying NNDR for the meanwhile activation of
other select off-high street non-retail premises that can catalyse
new creative and cultural activity and deliver new affordable
cultural production space and cultural infrastructure. This will
enable the council to encourage the reactivation of large vacant
buildings and create new economic opportunities in the creative
industries.

The Cabinet Member delegates authority to the Executive Director of
Regeneration, Economy and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Planning and Economic Development to agree future
priority sites for activations.
 
Reason for Decision
As set out in ‘Our Plan for a Fairer
Economy’, the council is committed to delivering more
creative workspace and cultural infrastructure. Policy HC5 of the
London Plan (Supporting London’s culture and creative
industries) encourages the use of vacant properties for cultural
and creative meanwhile uses.

To date the council’s approach to meanwhile use of vacant
property has mainly focused on high street retail spaces. This was
primarily driven by the need to tackle the proliferation of vacant
units and low-quality occupiers on the borough’s high
streets. The Meanwhile On programme has successfully contributed to
the economic recovery of the West End and is supporting the
enlivening of high streets across the borough.