Empty unit auctions planned to help town's revamp

Empty shop units in parts of Wellingborough could be auctioned off in an attempt to regenerate its High Street.

North Northamptonshire Council plans to work with landlords, who own premises that have been vacant for more than a year, to sell off the leases.

The local authority's executive of Reform UK councillors is due to discuss the scheme later.

Jan O'Hara, the council's executive member for planning and economic growth, said it would "give us an additional tool to tackle long-term vacancy and help bring empty premises back into productive use".

The council was selected as one of 11 early adopters of the Labour government's new High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) Programme.

After a public consultation and research, the council selected Wellingborough for the scheme.

Meanwhile, last month, councillors approved a 10-year regeneration plan for the town centre.

Prospective tenants would be identified as part of the auction process.

The council said Wellingborough had the "highest percentage of vacant premises", in its area, which fit the guidelines for the scheme.

If approved by the executive group later, the process of identifying suitable premises for the auction would begin.

The HSRA programme was backed by Labour MP for Wellingborough Gen Kitchen.

But she recently criticised the council's proposal to introduce parking charges in the town, which will also be discussed at the same meeting.

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