Westmorland and Furness Councils Cabinet meeting at Kendal town hall today approved the adoption of new powers from government to allow the council to hold High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) to tackle long-term empty high street commercial properties across Westmorland and Furness with pilot area designations for the scheme for Barrow, Kendal, Ulverston and Penrith.
The new powers adopted allow councils to step in and auction
leases for unused buildings to get them back into productive use, With the
intention of bringing energy, enterprise, and footfall back to town centres.
In Penrith the new powers will cover all commercial property
in Angel Lane, Angel Square, Bowling Green Lane, Brewery Lane, Burrowgate,
Castlegate, Cornmarket, Devonshire Street, Great Dockray, King Street, Little
Dockray, Market Square, Middlegate, Poets Walk, Princes Street, Queen Street,
St. Andrews Churchyard, St. Andrews Square and St. Andrews View.
During the Cabinet meeting, Penrith North councillor and
cabinet member for adult care, Cllr Bell said: “I do think we need to be
mindful that with people’s changed shopping habits; it is unlikely that town
centres will look the way they have done in the past.”
Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of the Council and Cabinet
Member for the Economy, said: "Diverse high streets and town centres
across our area are central to achieving our vision of a thriving and
sustainable Westmorland and Furness. We want to encourage vibrant towns and
communities, a strong and diverse economy, successful businesses and good jobs.
To be a place where investment and regeneration create opportunities for
people, while protecting and building on the area's distinctive natural,
cultural and economic assets.
"Our Inclusive and Green Economic Growth Strategy
2026-35 sets out a vision for our future, where assets are harnessed,
businesses can grow, communities prosper and the economy leads in innovation
and sustainability. Tackling our long-term empty properties is one element
supporting this vision.
"Bringing long-term properties back into productive
use, can support new and growing businesses, strengthen local economies,
improve the appearance and vibrancy of our high streets and create places where
people want to live, work, visit and invest. I look forward to seeing the
positive effect this scheme will have."
Engagement earlier this year informed the proposals and
there will now be a further 28-day consultation on the agreed designations.
Introduced in December 2024. HSRAs require landlords to rent
out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants such as local
businesses or community groups. Premises are eligible for a High Street Rental
Auction where it has been unoccupied continuously for 12 months, or for at
least 366 days (non-continuously) within a 24-month period.
HSRA enables the council to assign a lease on behalf of the
landlord, if they have not taken
reasonable steps to let their premises. The landlord remains the legal owner of
the property and landlords can still let their properties voluntarily
Following a statutory notice process, councils can arrange
an auction and grant a lease, typically for between one and five years, to a
successful bidder for uses that support the vitality of the high street, such
as shops, cafés, offices, community facilities, leisure uses or services. The
aim is to reduce long-term vacancy, increase footfall, support local businesses
and community organisations, and contribute to the regeneration of town centres
and high streets.
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