Galya DimitrovaSouth of England
BBCA council’s cabinet has agreed to pilot a scheme that grants it powers to bring empty shop units back into use.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said it was one of the first local authorities to trial the High Street Rental Auction initiative.
Under the scheme, the council will be allowed to intervene when properties are left empty and unused in Bournemouth town centre for more than 365 days during a two-year period.
It would be able to work with landlords and agents to put leases up for auction through a “right to rent” lot for businesses and community groups.
It will apply to the zone spanning from Durley Chine Road along West Cliff, through Bournemouth town centre, and on to Manor Road in East Cliff.
The area was chosen after approval from 75% of respondents to a public consultation.
Richard Herrett, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said it was “another step on the journey to get those units let on a longer basis”.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor David Brown said he welcomed the decision, adding: “It will take years for the town centre to recover from the key store losses.”
Councillor Jeff Hanna told the meeting he was “both excited at the prospect of this succeeding but also slightly apprehensive”.
“It would be quite a demand on our resources,” he added.
Councillor Richard Herrett said it did not give the authority “a magic bullet to solve all of the high streets issues” but could help “breathe new life into our town centres”.
The council said the number of returning visitors to Bournemouth had more than doubled year-on-year.
It added that floorspace and shop units had already been “proactively brought back into use” and that vacancy rates within the town remained “in-line with the national average” of 20%.
