Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to establish a royal commission to address the closure of high street stores.

While there are currently no plans to establish a royal commission, this Government is fully committed to supporting the businesses and communities that make our high streets and town centres successful.

In May 2022 we introduced the Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill. This new legislation will play an important role in reviving our high streets by introducing High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA). HSRAs will empower places to tackle decline by bringing vacant units back into use and will seek to increase cooperation between landlords and local authorities, and to make town centre tenancies more accessible and affordable for tenants, including SMEs, local businesses and community groups. HSRA will be backed by £2 million to help communities and local businesses take control of empty properties, covering the cost of refurbishing properties, the auction process and council fees.

As part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, published on 27 March, Government announced a High Street Accelerator pilot programme. Accelerators will incentivise and empower local people to work together to develop ambitious plans to tackle vacancy and reinvent their high streets so that they are fit for the future.