Riot rebuild will take vision

Today Estates Gazette launches its campaign Building a Better Britain.  The initiative is influenced by the events of the past week. Its message is not.   Ahead of last year’s general election, politicians warned that regeneration funding would be the first casualty of government cuts. Estates Gazette has argued that that need not be the case. Marrying private sector money to public sector assets – combined with the expertise of both parties – can ensure its survival and the delivery of targeted urban renewal.   Building a Better Britain is about ensuring that happens. Over the coming weeks we will be recruiting a commission of experts to draw up specific plans.We want to hear from you if you want to contribute – directly, or indirectly by putting forward ideas for the commission to consider.   In the coming months this will be pulled together as a blueprint for Building a Better Britain – a document that will be submitted to government. Get involved and help use this week’s events as a catalyst for much-needed change.damian.wild@estatesgazette.com The retail property industry has called for long-term support to help Britain recover from the hundreds of millions of pounds of damage caused as riots swept the country this week. On Thursday, prime minister David Cameron vowed to help landlords and retailers repair damage caused to properties and income by the violence and looting that began last Saturday (6 August). He has pledged £20m to help retailers; to set up a £10m recovery scheme for councils to make buildings safe; and to speed up planning consent­ for fixing properties. Cameron also said that affected businesses and homeowners would be able to seek compensation under the Riots Damages Act 1886, even if uninsured. The time to apply for compensation has been increased from 14 to 42 days. In London, mayor Boris Johnson has promised £50m to help rejuvenate town centres damaged by the riots. He said the regeneration fund would not just aid repair and rebuilding, but would finance larger projects in badly affected areas, such as Tottenham and Croydon. While the measures have been widely welcomed by the industry, many said a longer-term approach is needed. Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Our high streets urgently need action that will revitalise them in the long term. When the rubble has been cleared and stores reopened, there will be bigger, underlying problems still to address.” Edward Cooke, executive director of the BCSC, added: “We welcome all the moves announced to help those whose property has been destroyed. However, only time will tell if the government’s money for recovery is meaningful enough.” Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “Landlords will play their part in helping their communities recover, and the extra time they now have to make insurance claims will give them valuable breathing space as they work with tenants to take stock of the damage and disruption. “If, as it appears, the removal of rates liability for substantially damaged buildings is also to be given to empty properties rendered­ uninhabitable, this is also extremely positive.” Early estimates of the damage caused by the riots, which began in Tottenham, N17, before spreading out of London to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, put the cost at more than £140m. Figures from research firm the Local Data Company revealed that more than 10% of the nation’s 475,000 shops, pubs, restaurants and clubs were affected by the disturbances. More than 65% of those businesses hit were independent. LDC director Matthew Hopkinson said: “These figures are horrifying in terms of the damage that has been done to an already struggling sector. The retail sector is a major contributor to inner city regeneration projects as well as employing thousands of people it is the last thing that the high street, let alone the country, needed.”