| Topic: | Re:Front page article re. area planning committees | |
| Posted by: | Guy Lambert | |
| Date/Time: | 12/06/11 15:06:00 |
| George Yes I was picking up your point about some kind of penalty for unoccupied space. It appears that developers are 'happy' to leave space empty for a long period even after redevelopment, to say nothing of the blight of derelict buildings. In Brentford, which seems to me to have a pretty positive location - right next to the M4, handy for Heathrow, not too far from the tube, reasonable trains, next to the River/Chiswick/Kew Gardens etc - there has been development blight for decades. Whilst various developments have taken place in recent years there is still loads of dereliction and parts of the 'Golden Mile' are anything but golden. And it apparently makes sense to build a high quality modern office and keep it empty for more than 10 years. Public investment in housing has been more or less outlawed since Thatcher days so we have to wait until the private sector sees an opportunity to develop then try and pick up the pieces with s106 money etc. There used to be business rate relief on empty properties though I believe this was stopped by the last govt. Penalty rates on unoccupied space (as you sort of suggest) might stimulate some progress. |