Bassetlaw District Council is moving quickly to introduce new powers which hope to improve our high streets and tackle the problem of long-term empty shops.
The council was confirmed as one of just four ‘Early Adopters’ of the High Street Rentals Auction Programme (HSRA) announced by the Government in December last year, which will result in landlords renting out long-term empty shops to new tenants.
High Street Rental Auctions aim to work with disengaged landlords sitting on empty units for more than 365 days continuously or 366 days in a 24-month period and give councils the power to auction a one-to-five-year lease with interested businesses.
Councillors gave their approval for the programme to be introduced at a Cabinet meeting on 6th February, and to begin community engagement in Retford, Worksop, and Harworth and Bircotes.
This will help to identify exactly where the council can best use these new powers, with proposals for designated areas set to be published on our website and social media.
Councillor Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place said:
“We welcome these new powers to tackle empty high street shops as part of our ongoing commitment to revitalise and regenerate our town centres.
“Being part of the ‘Early Adopters Programme’ will provide an opportunity for us to get early advice and support, using this new legislation, to target the challenge of vacant units.”
As well as reducing the number of empty units on the high street, it is hoped High Street Rental Auctions will help support business start-up and community uses, bringing about an increase in footfall.
The council plans to work collaboratively with landlords to bring vacant units back into use without the need to use the new powers and to work proactively to attract new tenants.
However, if needed the council will step in when a landlord’s property has been empty for 365 days continuously or for at least 366 days within a 24-month period. It will also need to be beneficial to the local economy, society or environment to be brought back into use and could include grant assistance to bring them up to a letting standard.
Last Updated on Friday, February 14, 2025