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Written question asked by Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 24 January 2025. It was answered by Alex Norris (Labour) on Thursday, 30 January 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.


Empty Property: Shops

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22379 on Local Government Finance: Devolution, and with reference to her Department's High Street Rental Auctions fund: prospectus, updated on 17 January 2025, for what reason the High Streets Rental Auctions fund is operating on a bidding scheme basis; and whether the fund is ringfenced.

Answer

The government has made over £1 million available to support all local authorities in England to deliver High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA), a crucial part of how we will address persistent vacancies on high streets.

The non-ringfenced grant funding is designed to fund the cost of setting up a register of vacant properties and the refurbishment of vacant properties subject to a rental auction. These costs will vary depending on the nature of the property and other factors, so to ensure value for money, the government is asking local authorities to specify how much funding they require and to demonstrate their application meets certain limited criteria. For example, funding for refurbishments is limited to areas with higher vacancy rates. Provided it meets that criteria, and funding remains, it will be agreed.

New Burdens funding is also available to meet the administrative costs of implementing the new powers.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
25695
Session
2024-26
Related items
Local Government Finance
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Empty Property: Shops
Friday, 7 March 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Finance Empty property Shops
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk