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  Just in from the Planning Portal.
  
  More funding pledged to help ailing high streets
  
  Nearly 400 'Town Teams' are to win backing from a multi-million pound package of Government support to revive their high streets, Local Government Minister Grant Shapps announced.
  
  The news came as Shapps announced 15 new Portas Pilots, taking the total across the country to 27. The minister issued a call to MPs from the 392 Town Teams not chosen, to come forward and sign a national pledge to become a Town Team Partner - enabling access to a package of support to their own town. The package of support is worth £5.5m nationwide.
  
  Meanwhile, Communities secretary Eric Pickles has highlighted Government proposals to scrap restrictions that prevent start-up businesses from temporarily using empty high street shops that can help attract shoppers back to more family-friendly town centres.
  
  His comments came as the Department for Communities and Local Government published a new guide which shows how use of high street areas can help attract customers. 'Re-imagining urban spaces to help revitalise our high streets' identifies ways to lure shoppers into town by making it a more social experience, as recommended by Mary Portas.
  
  Ideas include removing street clutter for pedestrians, more street stalls and 'pop-up' shops as well as attractions like pavement cafés, play areas, outdoor libraries or street entertainment.
  
  Eric Pickles said: "Leaving empty shops to rot is a wasted economic opportunity that spoils the town centre - that is why we are proposing to scrap the damaging red tape that is keeping so many boarded up. This change can unleash our young entrepreneurs to open pop-up shops and turn the high streets into an exciting start-up launch pad."

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