Dereliction & Vacancy

Tackle Dereliction and Vacancy of housing and commercial units, I want to work towards revitalising and upgrading the retail experience in the city centre, driving up footfall to support our local retailers and stimulate new business growth.

A creative approach should be taken by the council to support local business start-ups with favourable rates when occupying long-term vacant premises in the city centre.

We need to work in tandem with planning, conservation and building regulations requirements through adopting a holistic and sensible approach moving towards increased reoccupation and reuse of our historic buildings and streets. An integrated “one-stop-shop” council service would provide certainty for building owners, businesses and residents seeking to revitalise these assets.

Better maintenance of our public spaces, our state-owned housing and public buildings is vital to create an environment in which residents and visitors wish to linger and use fully. We need better management of urban vacancy and dereliction, improved cleaning of our streets and more widespread recycling facilities.