Trial to force rental auctions of empty shops

Stanley had one of the largest increases in vacancy rates in County Durham

Enforcement measures to tackle empty shops by putting vacant commercial properties up for rental auction will be trialled.

Properties empty for more than a year in Bishop Auckland and Stanley could be subject to an auction if the landlord had not taken sufficient steps to let their premises, Durham County Council said.

The towns were chosen due to having the largest increase in vacancy rates in County Durham over 12 months, the council said.

Cabinet members at the Reform-led authority are set to agree on launching a public survey on the new scheme which is scheduled to open later this month, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Currently, vacant shops are addressed through a five-step plan - identification, establishment, engagement, education, encouragement and enforcement.

This process allows the council to work with landlords to address barriers in bringing the building or land back into use.

In Bishop Auckland and Stanley, high street rental auctions (HSRA) would only be implemented when that process had failed.

'Difficult landlords'

Other council powers to tackle vacant buildings include compulsory purchase orders, demolition, or enforcement notices.

Reform cabinet councillor Karen Allison, who has responsibility over high streets and regeneration, said: "HRSA powers offer us a further enforcement route to speed up the recovery of town centres when dealing with difficult landlords."

A public consultation is scheduled to take place from 22 October to 19 November.

Once the designation is applied, the HSRA will last approximately 26 to 28 weeks from the initial four-week community engagement period to the auction and letting period.