More empty shops should be used by communities as art galleries, cafes or advice centres to stop the recession turning high streets into crime-ridden ghost towns, the Government will urge.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears will use a seminar of councils, business leaders, landlords and town centre managers to set out measures aimed a making it easier for local groups to take over vacant stores.
They are expected to include speeded-up planning procedures, extra powers for local councils to intervene and standard short-term leases as well as funding worth up to £3 million to subsidise innovative schemes.
"Town centres are the heartbeat of every community and businesses are the foundation so it is vital that they remain vibrant places for people to meet and shop throughout the downturn," she will say.
"Empty shops can be eyesores or crime magnets. Our ideas for reviving town centres will give communities the know how to temporarily transform vacant premises into something innovative for the community - a social enterprise, a showroom for local artists or an information centre - and stop the high street being boarded up.
"Our town centre first planning rules and business rate deferments are also helping small businesses in more direct ways during this difficult time."
Ms Blears and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham will look around the centre of Stockport ahead of the meeting.
