High street rental auctions to take effect in summer

Measures to enable local authorities to put empty high street shops into rental auctions will be in force by the summer, according to the government. The first auctions are set to take place in September this year, and the first shop occupied and open to the public in October. The new law will be laid in parliament “shortly”. The government is launching a “trailblazer” programme to support “a number” of communities in implementing the powers. There will also be a £2m support pot. High street rental auctions will allow local leaders to step in and auction rental leases for up to five years, where a shop has been empty for a year. Separately, 10 local authorities will be given a share of £5m from the government’s High Street Accelerators programme to add greenery to their high streets. Levelling-up minister Jacob Young said: “We want to bring high streets back to life and these new levelling up powers will help do just that.” He added: “These new powers will enable local communities to take back control, backed by over £15bn of levelling up funding which is transforming towns and left-behind communities across the UK.” Photo by Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock