Blog: Back in 1968, the shopping streets of the Shropshire town where I worked as a cub reporter were thriving, writes Dave Morris.

The small, family-owned newspaper which employed me very much relied on local advertising from other family-owned businesses and shops, and I can’t remember there being any empty premises.

You could buy a bag of sugar and other groceries from at least half a dozen small shops in the town centre.

But enough of my ramble down memory lane.

Things have changed a great deal.

In towns across the country there are now plenty of derelict shops and empty business premises, or the high street is almost identical to hundreds of others, having the same familiar retail names occupying prime spots.

Which brings me on to the latest report from think tank, the Policy Exchange.

It says that empty shops and business premises should be turned into new homes to boost the economy and solve Britain’s housing shortage.

Changing planning rules to make it easier for developers to convert commercial units to housing would help thousands of people get on the property ladder, it claims.

Its report, called More Homes: Fewer Empty Buildings, calls for allowing vacant or under-used retail, industrial and office space to be converted into housing without needing permission for change of use.

Co-author Alex Morton said: “Councils are holding back the conversion of vacant and under-used urban space into housing.

“Relaxing the planning rules to make it easier to convert commercial property would encourage investment, increase regeneration and create large numbers of jobs.

“We have rates of vacancy among commercial buildings nearly six times that of empty housing. That is a major indictment of our current system.”

Boarded up, graffiti covered shop fronts are an eyesore, and the Policy Exchange ideas would certainly help to tackle this particular problem.

Also there is a pressing need for more homes with more than 8,000 families in the Shropshire Council area currently on housing waiting lists.

In fairness to the authority, it recognises the need to provide affordable homes as a key priority.

I have to admit that I do have concerns about the Policy Exchange proposals and I tend to lean towards the view of the Local Government Association.

A spokesman said: “Removing the need for developers to seek planning permission for change of use would reduce the ability of councils and residents to ensure there is a good balance between premises where people can work and homes where they can live.

“It would also mean councils could no longer ensure developers provide affordable housing, at a time when there is already a scarcity of homes for those on low incomes.”

Good points.

Also I’m not sure the proposals would restore to our towns that vitality I remember in 1968 – or prevent an increasing blandness.

Ah well, I think I’ll now take another gentle stroll down memory lane.

*1968. What a year in the UK!

The I’m Backing Britain Campaign encourages workers to work extra hours without extra pay; Enoch Powell makes his controversial Rivers of Blood speech; the Beatles’ animated film Yellow Submarine is released; the last steam passenger train service runs in Britain, and….the Dawley New Town (Designation) Amendment (Telford) Order is made, extending the boundaries of the new town and renaming it Telford!