Council urged to use new powers to revamp town

Connor Naismith highlighted the former M&S shop in Crewe town centre as one he would like to see brought back into use

Changes which allow councils to auction off leases for empty high street shops could “create a turning point” for a town centre, its MP said.

New powers have come into force allowing local authorities to put long-standing empty units up for rent.

Connor Naismith, the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, has called for Cheshire East Council to use the powers for the former Marks & Spencer site in Crewe.

He said he thought it had the potential to be a “real anchor for the future of Crewe’s high street". The council was approached for a response.

Mr Naismith said he felt Crewe town centre was in a “real sorry state”.

“When I speak to people on the doorstep, it is the number one issue people bring up,” he said.

“People want a high street they can feel proud of and they don’t currently feel like they have that and a great deal of why that is is because there are just so many empty shop units."

Mr Naismith said Crewe's town centre was important to his constituents and to him as a resident of the town

Crewe town centre has faced struggles in recent months.

Some regeneration has taken place with a new bus station and new multi-storey car park opening this year.

But a second phase of the same scheme, which was set to include new shops and a cinema, was scrapped in 2023.

Cheshire East Council said it would look into temporary uses instead for the site and the council’s leader said part of it could be used for housing in the future.

Plans for a retail and leisure site in Crewe were scrapped last year

Mr Naismith said he felt the new powers - which came into force on Monday - “strike the right balance”, because many councils were facing financial challenges.

He said if, instead, councils were given more powers to take over the buildings, many would not do so because they cannot afford to do it.

“This is about saying that the units are more than just commercial property," he said.

“They are that but filling that unit is vital to restoring people’s sense of pride in community and place”.