Powers to tackle plague of vacant shops approved in Westmorland

The local authority is hoping to utilise High Street Rental Auctions to improve the vitality of Barrow, Kendal, Penrith, and Ulverston.

Introduced in December 2024 by the Labour government, High Street Rental Auctions are aimed at giving councils powers to intervene in ailing town centres. In Westmorland and Furness, Barrow experiences the highest vacancy rate at 25.1%, followed by Kendal at 18.1%, Ulverston at 15.1%, and Penrith at 13.1%.

High Street Rental Auctions allow councils to step in and auction leases for unused, privately owned buildings to bring them back into use. The aim is to target long-term empty units and have local businesses or community groups bid to occupy them.

Some £10m has been made available to councils nationally to support the use of the new powers.

Westmorland and Furness Council voted yesterday to forge ahead with plans for the pilot across its towns. The Cumbrian council is among the first areas to approve using High Street Rental Auctions.

Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader of the council, said: “Diverse high streets and town centres across our area are central to achieving our vision of a thriving and sustainable Westmorland and Furness. We want to encourage vibrant towns and communities, a strong and diverse economy, successful businesses and good jobs. To be a place where investment and regeneration create opportunities for people, while protecting and building on the area’s distinctive natural, cultural and economic assets.

“Bringing long-term properties back into productive use, can support new and growing businesses, strengthen local economies, improve the appearance and vibrancy of our high streets and create places where people want to live, work, visit and invest. I look forward to seeing the positive effect this scheme will have.”

Owners of units in the following streets could have them let out from under their noses:

Barrow – Cavendish Street, Dalkeith Street, Dalton Road, Duke Street, Paxton Street, Portland Walk, Scott Street and William Street

Kendal – Allhallows Lane, Angel Yard, Berry’s Yard, Blackhall Yard, Branthwaite Brow, Elephant Yard, Finkle Street, Highgate, Kirkgate, Library Road, Market Place, New Shambles, Stramongate, Stricklandgate, Wainwrights Yard, Woolpack Yard and Smokehouse Yard.

Penrith – Angel Lane, Angel Square, Bowling Green Lane, Brewery Lane, Burrowgate, Castlegate, Cornmarket, Devonshire Street, Great Dockray, King Street, Little Dockray, Market Square, Middlegate, Poets Walk, Princes Street, Queen Street, St. Andrews Churchyard, St. Andrews Square and St. Andrews View.

Ulverston – Bolton’s Place, Brogden Street, County Square, Daltongate, King Street, Market Place, Market Street, New Market Street, Queen Street, Union Street and Upper Brook Street.