"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
michael adams wrote:
Wouldn't put it past them here in Cambridge any unused building will be
flats sooner or not much later;!

If my local Council is anything to go by, they seem to encourage the
developement of flats anywhere and everywhere so as to increase their
income from Council Tax. It also suits them for them to stay empty
for as long as possible, or at least until the developer goes bust.

What creates more income to the council? A shop or that shop (area)
converted to flats?

On the High St its the spaces above large shops which were formerly
stockrooms that are being converted into flats. Ground floors of
smaller sites are often taken over by charity shops that get either
80% or 100% business rate relief.

Just In Time delivery resulting from improved IT has probably freed
up a lot of stockroom space in any case.

Otherwise flats are going up everywhere despite there being little
or no parking provision in many places. Instead the boarding on
the outside is plastered with posters of fitted kitchens with granite
worktops and shiny taps or big sofas on fluffy white carpets.


michael adams

....