High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) allows councils to auction leases on commercial properties that have been empty for over a year.
The aim is to get unused buildings back into use, bringing energy, enterprise, and footfall back to our town centres.
We are a geographically large council area. High streets range from large urban centres to rural streets at the heart of smaller communities. All are an essential part of our unique offer for residents and visitors.
When we refer to the term ‘high street’, we are referring to our main commercial and retails centres. These can include:
- central shopping areas - with many shops and higher footfall
- a mix of businesses - including chain stores, independent retailers, cafes, and banks
- social hubs - supporting local life and community events
- cultural and heritage significance - reflected in the built environment and a place's character
HSRA pilot
The council is proposing a pilot that will test systems and approaches. It will identify potential risks, challenges and opportunities. The pilot will run before adopting HSRAs in more towns and villages where high streets have commercial/rental properties, alongside evidence or increased risk of long-term vacancy.
Westmorland and Furness Council is proposing to designate pilot areas for these new powers in:
- Barrow
- Kendal
- Penrith
- Ulverston
These areas are based upon the primary shopping areas in the Local Plan. Reasons for selection include:
- current and historic vacancy rates
- Local Plan and regeneration priorities
- potential to support thriving and vibrant town centres
Have your say
Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent High Street Rental Auctions consultation for proposed designations in Barrow, Kendal, Penrith and Ulverston.
The consultation period has now closed, and we are grateful to all residents, businesses, and stakeholders who took the time to share their views. In total, we received 185 responses, all of which will help inform our next steps and ensure the process reflects the needs and priorities of our communities.
We will provide further updates on the outcomes of the consultation in due course.