New powers are to be granted to local authorities across England to help address high numbers of empty retail units on British high streets.
From this summer, High Street Rental Auctions will allow local leaders to take control of empty shops on high streets and rent them out to local businesses that want use them where properties have been vacant for over a year. Auctions will have no reserve price, giving local businesses and community groups the opportunity to occupy space on a rental lease of up to five years at a competitive market rate.
The government is also launching new ‘trailblazer’ programme so it can work with communities who are keen to lead the way in quickly implementing the new powers. There will also be a £2 million support pot to help local authorities to get started across the summer, with the first High Street Rental Auctions expected to take place in September 2024, with tenants occupying empty shops from October.
Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said:
“We want to bring high streets back to life and these new levelling up powers will help do just that.
“A lively high street brings an irreplaceable community spirit – one that is unique to its own area – along with new jobs and opportunities for local people.
“These new powers will enable local communities to take back control, backed by over £15 billion of levelling up funding which is transforming towns and left-behind communities across the UK.“
The planned powers for local authorities over empty high street shops will shortly be laid in Parliament, and follow publication of the government’s response to a technical consultation on the scheme, which formed part of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, which received royal assent in October 2023.
Alongside the High Street Rental Auction scheme, a new pilot programme to accelerate regeneration on England’s struggling high streets will also give 10 areas a share of £5 million to boost greenery on their high streets through tree planting, green walls and green pocket spaces and improving adjacent parks.