Agenda item - Designation of High Street Rental Auction area for Bournemouth town centre

High Street Rental Auctions, as part of new government legislation, will enhance the council’s ability to bring long-term vacant properties on the high-street back in to use via an auction process.

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 gives the Authority the power to go ahead with the High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) a new permissive power. As per the guidance, once the Authority has designated specific streets or areas as HSRA areas (following a mandatory 28 day consultation) which satisfy the test that the area is important to the local economy due to a concentration of high street uses. The designation is registered as a local land charge.

The Authority can then only use the powers in that area designated. This does not stop more areas being designated later provided they also meet the test and can be funded.

BCP Council undertook a public consultation to gauge opinions from key stakeholders over the required period of 28 days during the summer of 2025. The results highlighted a 75% approval for the programme. There is clearly a local desire for HSRAs to be implemented and bring new life to the high street.

The next step in the process is for Cabinet to designate the high streets within Bournemouth town centre. Without this, the power of HSRAs cannot be implemented.

It should be noted that the HSRA process is multi-stage and may take several months from designation to the first auction, due to statutory notice periods and preparatory work.

RESOLVED that: -

(a) Cabinet approved the designation of the HSRA area for Bournemouth town centre (see map in paragraph 4); and

(b) Cabinet agreed to delegate approval to the Chief Operations Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations to consider future designated areas or HSRAs subject to adhering to the consultation requirements.

Portfolio Holder: Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations

Voting: Unanimous

Reasons

(a) The Pre-HSRA work as defined by MHCLG requires the Local Authority to designate the high street before any auction notice can be served.

(b) The recent HSRA public consultation on the proposed designated area resulted in an overall favourability of 75% when asked ‘Do you agree or disagree with the proposed area, shown in the map.’?

(c) The HSRA programme supports the council’s Corporate Strategy:

i. Revitalising and reinventing high streets and local centres

(d) The HSRA programme supports the council’s High Street and District Centre Strategy:

(e) Reimagining High Streets

(f) Encouraging local investment

(g) Transforming empty buildings

(h) Improving the public realm

(i) Celebrating pride in local communities

(j) Supporting high street businesses

(k) Although the vacancy rate by unit in Bournemouth town centre is roughly in line with national averages at 20%, there is clearly a great potential for HSRAs to engage landlords to fill those vacant units.

(l) Bournemouth town centre continues to generate positive headlines, with examples including the successful openings of The Ivy and The Botanist, the collaborative Citizens’ Panel, and the ongoing transformation of Bobby’s, among other initiatives. Introducing HSRAs will build on this momentum and further revitalise the area.

The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that High Street Rental Auctions, as part of new government legislation, will enhance the council’s ability to bring long-term vacant properties on the high-street back in to use via an auction process.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 gives the Authority the power to go ahead with the High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) a new permissive power, and that as per the guidance, once the Authority has designated specific streets or areas as HSRA areas (following a mandatory 28 day consultation) which satisfy the test that the area is important to the local economy due to a concentration of high street uses. The designation is registered as a local land charge.

Cabinet was informed that the Authority can then only use the powers in that area designated, and that this does not stop more areas being designated later provided they also meet the test and can be funded.

Cabinet was advised that BCP Council undertook a public consultation to gauge opinions from key stakeholders over the required period of 28 days during the summer of 2025, and that the results highlighted a 75% approval for the programme, which clearly demonstrated a local desire for HSRAs to be implemented and bring new life to the high street.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that the next step in the process was for Cabinet to designate the high streets within Bournemouth town centre, and that without this, the power of HSRAs cannot be implemented.

Cabinet was advised that it should be noted that the HSRA process is multi-stage and may take several months from designation to the first auction, due to statutory notice periods and preparatory work.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet advising that he would welcome Boscombe being included in the future.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the report and of the importance of investment of vibrant high streets.