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Boris plan to help small shops with low rent pledge
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard31.07.08
Boris Johnson today unveiled plans to help protect small shops.
All new retail developments are to be ordered to provide cut-price rents to independent retailers.
Details of the Mayor's proposals are still being worked out but will be published as alterations to the London Plan in the next eight months.
The Mayor has already launched Planning For A Better London, which sets out some of his proposed changes and includes a commitment to ensure a diverse retail sector.
The Evening Standard has been runnning a Save Our Small Shops campaign which aims to stop the march of chain stores. Mr Johnson made the announcement at City Hall as he chaired his first business summit.
The event was attended by representatives from a range of London businesses.
He said: "During the election I promised to champion all sectors of London's business community and especially look out for the concerns of small businesses. Our small shops add real character and diversity to the capital's high streets but they are finding themselves squeezed out by competition from supermarkets and rising unsustainable rents.
"My proposals aim to help reverse this trend, offering small retailers the opportunity to make a success of their enterprise both by making more suitablepremises available and taking steps to level the playing field by securing affordable rents."
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Business, said: "New retail developments will always be springing up in London. The key is to ensure that small businesses are part and parcel of those shopping sites. By emphasising the need for suitable premises and affordable rents, Boris Johnson is definitely travelling in the right direction."
The announcement of the plans follow a plea from Mr Johnson to Haringey council asking it to refuse planning permission for a new development which would close a popular Latin market.
The proposed re-design of Wards Corner, will lead to the closure of Pueblito Paisa market in Seven Sisters which Mr Johnson visited during his election campaign.
Reader views (3)
Boris I hope your pledge has some substance behind it! Good riddance to Mr Livingstone who talked the talk but alas as like many other politicians did not walk the walk. I understand there is only so much you can do. However we all have a responsibility to keep independent shops open. Low rents may help but if we do not shop at smaller retailers they will still inevitably close.
- Roberto Carballeiro, Basingstoke
Unfortunately Shailesh that's what happens when you vote Labour. I am sorry that your shop went but hopefully people won't vote for the criminal rights party in 2010.
Boris isn't able to undo what Livingstone has done but he can influence the future. Maybe you'll be able to open again in the coming years. I hope so.
- Charlie Clark, glasgow
Its a bit late for the Mayor to try and small shop keepers. It is also to late for the Standard to start a campaign last year to help small shop keepers. For the last 10 years shop keepers were complaining against unfair competition from supermarkets unfair rents excess council tax but no one listened as the supermarket lobby is to strong with Government links. lobbyist doing the dirty work for super markets.
On top of that crime was an issue. Police are not prepared to protect small shops, they never show up, but if a supermarket rings for help they show up straight away. The police will also not let us deal with the problem our self in self defence. We get charged for protecting our property while the shop lifter gets away.
I shut a perfectly good shop with loss of 4 jobs because it was coming to a stage where was all the hours 7 days a week worth it. Now the council has lost income on the tax as well and the 3 staff claiming benifits.
Its all to late.
- Shailesh Shah, Wembley Middlesex
