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In a national announcement made today (Thursday 6 March), the council has been named as one of eight local authorities to be given new powers as an ‘early adopter’ of the scheme. This will enable the council to auction off leases for commercial properties that are empty and have been for a long time.
Under the rules of the scheme, properties vacant for more than a year could be subject to a High Street Rental Auction if the landlord has not taken sufficient steps to let their premises. However, these powers would only be applied by the council in exceptional circumstances where there are longterm, avoidable issues with vacant properties and where efforts to engage with landlords have been unsuccessful.
The first stage in the process is for the council to determine designated town centre zones where the powers could be applied. Local communities and stakeholders will be invited to have their say on proposed designated zones within the towns of Clevedon, Nailsea and Weston-super-Mare. An engagement exercise is due to launch in the spring and details will be published nearer the time.
Portishead is not currently being considered for the scheme as the council’s research, which included a review of property vacancy rates, indicates the town would not benefit at this time. The council may consider adding additional locations to the scheme at a later date.
Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s executive member for spatial planning, placemaking and economy, said: "The prolonged vacancy of a small number of shops and buildings is a blight on town centres across the country. We’re delighted to have been accepted as one of the first early adopters of the High Street Rental Auctions scheme, which will form part of our overall strategy to tackle empty buildings and regenerate North Somerset’s town centres.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. The scheme would create a ‘right to rent’ for small businesses, start-ups and community groups. Short-term rents may be very appealing to these businesses and organisations which may not have been previously able to secure units in prime locations. I look forward to seeing the process unfold, which could help improve vibrancy in our town centres, which in turn will attract more footfall for local businesses and more jobs for local people."
Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety, Alex Norris, said: “High Street Rental Auctions are a brilliant way for councils to bring shops and shoppers back to the high street, boosting trade, creating jobs and supporting our communities.
“I am delighted that eight more councils have become Early Adopters of these new powers, acting as leading lights for other local authorities.
“We are committed to growing the economy and improving opportunities for people across the country through our Plan for Change, and thriving high streets have a key role to play.
“That’s why we are backing the rollout of the powers with over £1m of funding on offer to help ensure our communities have the resources they need to realise their potential.”
More information about the scheme is available on the UK government’s website.
For more information and to keep up to date with the High Street Rental Auctions scheme in North Somerset, visit the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/HighStreetRentalAuctions.