Struggling shops could be given a business rates break under plans to breathe fresh life into the high street.
The Scottish Conservatives have outlined proposals based on handing local authorities, like East Ayrshire Council, the power to exempt stores from paying business rates.
Retailers have endured a dreadful 2020 due to the Covid pandemic which has exacerbated problems that already include people visiting out-of-town retail parks and shopping online.
South Scotland Conservative MSP Brian Whittle reckons the plans would give councils more options when it comes to supporting the high street retail sector.
“Our high streets have been struggling to adapt to people’s changing shopping habits for years and the pandemic has only accelerated this trend,” Mr Whittle commented.
“There is still a future for high streets but they need help to change.
“Giving councils the ability to exempt high street stores from business rates can help shops through this particularly challenging period and encourage other shops to open.”
Also included in the plans are incentives to redevelop long-term unoccupied retail premises into housing to bring more people back into town centres.
Mr Whittle added: “Many of the buildings on our high streets began life with a residential component but when high street shops became larger, those homes were lost.
“With many of the bigger chains now moving away from high streets, those spaces can become homes again and help to create a community around the high street.
“We need fresh, ambitious thinking to help rebuild and renew town and village centres and that’s what these ideas offer.”
