Councils will be granted new legal powers from 2 December to auction leases for long-vacant high street properties, as part of measures introduced under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The initiative, termed High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), is intended to address the persistent problem of empty commercial premises in city, town, and village centres.

Under the new regulations, local authorities can intervene if properties have been vacant for more than 365 days within a two-year period. The initiative aims to bring these spaces back into use by auctioning leases for one to five years, making them accessible to businesses and community organisations.

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