Our high streets are the beating heart of our communities. They are not simply places where people shop – they are gathering points, cultural centres and serve as symbols of local identity. They fuel local economies, support countless small businesses and provide many thousands of jobs. They inspire confidence in our communities and encourage residents to stay connected in the areas they live.
But for too long, our high streets have been neglected. They have become defined by the number of empty shopfronts and ‘to let’ signs they sport – rather than by the vibrancy and footfall that once sustained them. And when people stop visiting town centres, antisocial behaviour and crime are allowed to flourish – creating a vicious cycle that benefits only those looking to create disorder and discord in our communities.
Town centres were once a great source of pride for our communities. Their decline has had real consequences. We, of course, can’t deny that the retail landscape has changed – and it is our challenge to adapt to this new reality: The rise of online shopping, out-of-town retail parks, and over a decade of austerity have left many town centres struggling to adapt.
This story isn’t unique to Bournemouth, it’s one echoed across the nation. My constituents are rightly frustrated by the state of our town centre – it is the number one issue that residents raise on the doorstep and in conversation with me. Time and again I hear that they feel unsafe – and sadly many haven’t visited the town centre in years due to its falling reputation.
Bournemouth was once known for its vibrant shopping streets, summer tourism and its rich cultural heritage. But it now has a staggering 15% vacancy rate for shopfronts – above the national average.
Despite the challenges we face, Bournemouth has so much potential and so much to offer. It has one of the world’s best beaches, a growing start-up and creative industries scene, great local businesses and more.
The scale of the challenge is still enormous – and to tackle it we require urgent action, collaboration between central and local government, as well as the private sector, and creativity in how we imagine the high streets and town centres of the future – with a mix of culture, retail, hospitality and community spaces.
This is why the Government’s action to bring High Street Rental Auctions to life is so important, and why I’m really pleased that Bournemouth has been selected as an early adopter area of the scheme. It’s also why I chose this as the topic of my first Westminster Hall Debate.
These auctions could be transformational for my town and others around the country. They require landlords to lease their properties within a certain time frame, preventing them from leaving spaces empty for years on end. The time restriction of 365 days within a 24-month period will help tackle the persistent problem of long-term vacancies, which is a huge opportunity for communities like mine in Bournemouth West. By giving local councils the power to take action, we can reintegrate these spaces into our high streets and begin to bring them back to life.
It’s important to say that this should be seen as a tool of last resort. High Street Rental Auctions have been designed to encourage greater collaboration and cooperative working between landlords and councils to find solutions to persistently empty shops, and I am working with the local council, BID, businesses and landlords to encourage this.
They should also be seen in the context of measures this government has committed to – from supporting small businesses, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in our town centres to reforming business rates.
High Street Rental Auctions are not just about filling vacancies; they are about creating a vibrant, sustainable environment for businesses, residents, and visitors alike and offer community organisations and independent businesses a shot at getting a foothold in the high street.
This is a real opportunity for all of us to fill our empty shops, increase footfall, reduce antisocial behaviour and build pride again in our towns and high streets across the country.
Revitalising our high streets is issue I will continue to champion in Parliament, and by working together, we can ensure that our high streets become the thriving, vibrant centres that they were always meant to be.
Innovation such as High Street Rental Auctions can breathe new life into our town centres
