Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the London Borough of Havering on supporting highstreets to provide a broad range of (a) shops, (b) amenities and (c) services.

The Government wishes to promote thriving, mixed use high streets across the country, and through the Plan for Change, is fostering the conditions for economic growth upon which the health of high streets depends.

Local leaders also have a vital role in supporting high streets and my department engages with local authorities and other partners regularly. The Mayor of London and London councils have published a growth plan to boost jobs and prosperity. Boroughs like Havering are obliged to promote the health of town centres through the planning system, and the Government has introduced new High Street Rental Auction powers enabling all councils to tackle persistent vacancy on high streets.

More widely, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) like the London Riverside BID and Romford Town Centre BID in Havering can also play a role in attracting investment and improving trade.