High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) are a new tool introduced under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 to help local authorities bring long-term vacant high street properties back into use. They allow councils to work proactively with landlords to encourage vibrant and successful high streets.
Properties eligible for HSRAs must have been vacant for at least 12 months (or 366 days within 24 months) and be deemed to provide a positive economic, social, or environmental benefit if occupied for a suitable high street use.
The process involves designating specific streets or areas as HSRA zones, following a mandatory 28-day public consultation. Once designated, the council can use auction powers to secure tenants for these vacant units.
What HSRAs are not
HSRAs are a valuable tool for local authorities to regenerate their high streets but it’s important to recognise their limits and dispel any myths.
The legislation does not remove a landlord’s long‑term control of their asset, as any lease secured through an auction is short‑term and time‑limited. HSRAs are also not intended for landlords who are actively working to bring their property back into use. Government guidance is clear that councils should engage constructively with landlords and only consider an auction where prolonged vacancy persists and voluntary solutions have not succeeded.
The journey so far
HSRAs were introduced nationally in December 2024, and we acted as one of the first early adopters of the legislation. We have taken on an advisory role to help shape guidance and improve delivery for other authorities. In Bournemouth, the process began with securing funding for a Vacancy Register to identify eligible properties.
A public consultation on the proposed designated area ran from 15 July to 12 August 2025, resulting in strong support with 75% of respondents in agreement with the proposed area. This positive response reflects a clear local desire to revitalise the high street and reduce vacancy rates.
On 17 December 2025, cabinet voted unanimously to designate Bournemouth town centre for High Street Rental Auctions.
The designated area
The designated HSRA area covers the entire area within the official Bournemouth town centre boundary, which has been identified as critical to the local economy due to its concentration of high street uses. This designation is the first step in a multi-stage process that may take several months before the first auction, due to statutory notice periods and preparatory work.
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While Bournemouth is the pilot location, the programme has the potential to expand to other town and district centres across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the near future, which is a desire expressed at the cabinet meeting on 17 December.
The Vacancy Register
With funding provided by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) a comprehensive survey of vacant premises was conducted in Bournemouth town centre, starting in September 2025. This identified a total of 123 vacant premises.
Next steps
The HSRA legislation is a key element of our strategy to tackle long-term vacant units in the town centre but we recognise that an auction should be seen as a last resort and is one of many possible solutions.
We want to engage productively with landlords and businesses to find the most efficient and practical way to reduce the vacancy rate and bring new life to the high street in Bournemouth.
Get in touch with us
If you are a business interested in operating from a property in Bournemouth town centre or a landlord seeking a new tenant, we want to hear from you.
Get in touch with a member of the team at economicdevelopment@bcpcouncil.gov.uk to find out more and work with us.