Stapleford High Street Rental Auctions

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) are a new permissive power for local authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants such as local businesses or community groups. Local authorities will be able to take action to fill long term vacant properties by auctioning lease rights of up to 5 years.

We have registered with MHCLG, Communities and Inclusive Growth Policy and Strategy Division, as one of eleven councils now on the HSRA ‘Early Adopter’ programme.  Tranche one was Bassetlaw, Darlington and Mansfield and tranche two are the following councils: Barnsley, Broxtowe, Camden, Hillingdon, Lichfield, North Northamptonshire, North Somerset and Westminster. 

When we select the premises for HSRA, it must satisfy the 'vacancy condition' (unoccupied continuously for 12 months or for at least 366 days non-continuously within a 24-month period) and the 'local benefit condition' (occupation of the premises for a suitable high street use would be beneficial to the local economy, society or environment).

The Process

The HSRA process takes 22 to 24 weeks after community engagement and involves a notice period and auction period. Prior to that, we have announced our intentions to identify premises that satisfy the ‘vacancy condition’ within the Stapleford HSRA Designated Area. We will establish a Vacancy Register of those properties and enter into a 28-day minimum community engagement period after which we can start the HSRA process taking up to 24 weeks beyond the community engagement period. Following this, there is a 10 to 12 week notice period and then a 12 week Auction Period.

Proposed Designated Area

The Council is proposing Stapleford Town Centre as a designated area where High Street Rental Auctions can be used. This area has a vacancy rate of 11%.

Proposed Stapleford HSRA Designated Area (.pdf) (270KB) (Opens in a new window) 

Current Stage

The Council is seeking comments regarding the Stapleford HSRA Designated Area. Comments can be submitted between 6 March 2025 and 3 April 2025. Comments can be made via email to economic.development@broxtowe.gov.uk or by post to Economic Development, Broxtowe Borough Council, Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, NG9 1AB.

Comments should specify whether the proposed area is supported or not and include the reasons why.

Next Steps

Following the public consultation, we will identify properties within the Stapleford HSRA Designated Area that satisfy both the vacancy condition and local benefit condition. We will then engage with landlords and begin surveying the premises.

As Broxtowe Borough Council is one of 11 Early Adopters of the HSRA initiative, information is limited at this time. This page will be updated with further information when it becomes available.