Home   News   Article

Call for Inverness to get a share of cash for shop conversions


By Donna MacAllister

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Bet McAllister
Bet McAllister

CONCERNS have been raised that Inverness could be denied a share of funding to help the hardest-pressed local high streets turn empty shops into housing.

Mike Smith, manager of the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) fears a move by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to persuade the Scottish Government to split a £50 million fund between the poorest-performing high streets only could see a relatively buoyant Inverness miss out.

“I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.

“All high streets are under certain pressures. Retail is a commercial venture and we do not think that public funds should be given to

support one retail sector against another.

“I think this £50 million should be fairly split on a population basis and should be used in an equal way to improve the infrastructure.”

Mr Smith stressed that some local authorities will already be investing in this way and their successes “should not be held against them”.

He said the redevelopment of Academy Street’s former Farmfoods supermarket was “a good example” of shops being turned into homes in the city with the local authority’s support.

The development there will include 19 one-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom flats as well as four retail and office units on the ground floor.

A spokesman for FSB nationally said: “It is far too early to tell which high streets will benefit from this fund.

“We’re making the case for each local authority to use this money in the places that it could make the most difference.”

FSB Highlands and Islands development manager David Richardson said: “Rather than spreading the money too thinly for it to have any impact, the FSB wants it to be focused on diversifying our hardest-pressed high streets and is calling for local authorities to establish new co-investment funds to improve and convert existing properties. We must make more of what we’ve already got. Allied to this is the need for joined-up thinking amongst public bodies. Given that thriving high streets and village centres are inextricably linked to the health and wellbeing of their communities, it is important that all interested parties work in partnership.”

Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister said she would be calling on colleagues to get round the table for some strategic planning to make sure the city gets a share of the funding.

She believes the rate of shop closures in the Highland capital and the long waiting list for homes puts the city at the front of the queue.

She said: “I’m going to have a chat with the city centre manager, David Hass, and get people around the table to see how we can get our hands on that money.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More