Plans to tackle empty shops in Bournemouth given green light

Last year the Government announced the High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) scheme which gives councils the right to rent long term vacant properties. BCP council is one of the first local authorities to engage with the programme so will also be acting in and advisory role to refine the process.

The vacancy rate locally is currently 20 per cent which is in line with the national average. Major developments and proposals that are already underway will bring 1/3 of the empty properties back into use, these powers will help to bring persistently vacant properties back into community use.

More than 20 new businesses have opened in Bournemouth town centre which includes big brands and independent retailers. Across June, July and August this year, 10.2million trips were made to the town centre with returning visitors doubling year on year.

Government funding for a vacancy register has been secured and the council can get a grant for every high street rental auction undertaken of up to £5,223 to cover costs such as administering and managing the auction, marketing, issuing legal notices, and gaining property access.

Bournemouth has been considered a priority for the scheme due to other town centres in BCP being in a better position.

During a Cabinet meeting on December 17, Councillors expressed there support of the plans and hopes that their areas could be revitalised.

Future designation for HSRA areas will be delegated to the Chief Operations Officer in consultation with the portfolio holder meaning that a new designation area would not need to go through a full cabinet process to be approved and decisions will be considered quicker.

During the meeting Councillor Patrick Canavan said: “I support the need to do this in Bournemouth town centre” adding “my issue here is the inference in the paper is we will do this as a pilot, but I wouldn’t want to see is us doing this as a pilot and in 12 months time taking an assessment about how it has gone and where we can do it next that is way to slow.”

Cllr Canavan went on to ask if it would be possible to do this in Boscombe.

Councillor Sandra Moore said: “This legislation can be rolled out to any town or district centre across BCP which meets the criteria.”

Councillor Jeff Hanna said: “I am slightly conflicted, I feel both excited at the prospect of this succeeding and our town centres improving. But I also feel slightly apprehensive because I look at the complexity of the flowchart and the various stages businesses might be able to appeal and I anticipate it will take up quite a demand on our resources. I do totally welcome this.”

Councillor David Brown added: “I do welcome this, I hear a lot of people criticising the council for the state of our high streets and town centres. There are certain thing the council can do to support retail and hospitality in our high streets and town centres but we can’t wave a magic wand.”

After the meeting, Councillor Richard Herrett, BCP Council Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to pass this through cabinet today, which will enable us to take the next steps with HSRA’s

“It is not a silver bullet, but it’s another tool, and builds on a lot of good work to reimagine and revitalise our town centres by the council and our partners in recent years.

“We will now be establishing the vacancy register, engaging with landlords and taking steps to seeing some of those stubborn units back into use for the benefit of local businesses and communities.”

The cabinet unanimously agreed the recommendations in the report and to make Bournemouth the first area to benefit from the scheme