POWERS to ensure long-term empty units in the town centre are put into use are set to be discussed by members of the council’s cabinet.
High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers allow UK local authorities to force landlords to rent out long-term vacant commercial properties on their high streets, bringing them back into use via a public auction for rental rights, aiming to revitalise town centres by tackling persistent shop vacancies under the Levelling-Up-and-Regeneration Act 2023.
These powers apply to properties vacant for over a year in designated areas, requiring local authorities to prove local benefit and potentially auctioning leases to interested parties, including local businesses or community groups, to boost economic activity.
Cabinet members will meet on March 18 to discuss using the powers both in the town centre and across the wider borough.
