If you’ve taken a stroll through our town centre recently, you might have noticed a few empty shop fronts. We all want our high street to be a bustling, vibrant hub, and Ipswich Borough Council is looking at an exciting new way to make that happen.
The Council is proposing to launch a consultation on introducing High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) right here in the heart of Ipswich. This forms part of their ongoing commitment to breathe new life into the town centre and bring long-term vacant commercial properties back into active use for the benefit of our whole community.
What Are High Street Rental Auctions?
Introduced by the Government through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, these new powers are designed to tackle the problem of persistent commercial vacancies. If approved, HSRAs would allow local authorities to step in and auction off short-term leases on qualifying empty premises, specifically where landlords have been unable or unwilling to bring them back into use themselves.
Instead of relying on costly and time-consuming measures like compulsory purchase orders, this targeted approach offers a much quicker intervention. It’s all about breaking the cycle of long-empty units, unrealistic rents, and inactive landlords so that local entrepreneurs and community organisations can access premises that might otherwise remain closed behind shutters.
A Vision for a Vibrant Ipswich
As the proud county town of Suffolk, Ipswich has always been a key retail, leisure, and entertainment destination. However, the way we shop and spend our free time has changed. A recent survey of the Central Shopping Area found that around 19% of units are currently out of use, which broadly reflects the national picture across the UK.
Rather than simply trying to recreate traditional retail patterns, the vision set out in the Council’s Proud of Ipswich strategy is to create a vibrant, modern mix of shopping, leisure, culture, hospitality, homes, workplaces, and community services. Initiatives like HSRAs can help overcome the barriers that keep properties sitting empty.
Organisations like Ipswich Central and The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce work hard to champion local enterprise, and finding a speedy way to get our commercial spaces filled is a massive step forward for the local economy.
Boosting Activity and Supporting Local Talent
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, is a strong advocate for the proposal, noting that tackling vacant units is essential for boosting footfall and supporting local enterprise without requiring major public investment.
“The Council is determined to tackle vacant town centre units, which reduce footfall, harm businesses and damage Ipswich’s overall vitality,” Councillor MacDonald explained. “Through HSRAs, we can step in where landlords leave properties empty so that we can bring them back into use with short-term leases to new tenants – such as local businesses or community groups. This will help to revitalise the town centre and stimulate economic activity.”
He added that Ipswich has been closely monitoring early pilots of the scheme and has growing confidence in its practical success. “We recognise that any changes are to be shaped in partnership with the communities they affect. We’ll work closely with businesses and landlords to shape proposals, ensuring they reflect local needs and support our priority of a thriving, vibrant town centre.”
What Happens Next?
The proposal will be considered by the Council’s Executive on 14 July. If approved, the Council will then launch a minimum 28-day public consultation later this year to gather feedback on the designated areas where HSRAs could be used.
Only premises that have been vacant for extended periods and where new occupation would offer a clear local benefit will be considered for auction. It’s a brilliant opportunity to give local businesses and community organisations the keys to spaces that can serve the people of Ipswich.
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