Mr Nick Clegg said instead of leaving properties empty, he wants to help match-make entrepreneurs and community groups with local authorities and land-owners to find uses for the vacant buildings and land rather than let the sites go to waste.
Mr Clegg said: "Leaving useful land in the North to languish is not only bad for business, it can hamper the success of an area in so many ways. Which is why I want to see empty buildings brought back to life and back in business.
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"We need to understand what stands in the way of some of the most incredible space in the country being used, and make things more flexible so that we can fill these buildings with artists, start-ups and other entrepreneurs to restore the buildings' purpose and appeal.
"Through my Northern Futures initiative, I'm championing innovative ideas from people in the North to build a stronger economy and fairer society."
Mr Clegg will form a working group immediately to investigate how more vacant buildings and land across the North can be brought back into temporary use. The group will explore sites with potential across Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle.
The working group will present their findings to the Deputy Prime Minister in January.
(CD/MH)
