Empty Shops Triple In Some South Cumbrian Towns Over Five Years
Some South Cumbrian towns are facing a growing high street vacancy problem, with empty shops reportedly tripling in number over the past five years.
The figures have raised concerns about the condition and future of town centres, where vacant commercial properties can reduce footfall, affect neighbouring businesses and make shopping areas less attractive to residents and visitors.
Westmorland and Furness Council is considering a pilot scheme using High Street Rental Auctions to tackle persistently empty commercial premises. The proposed approach would cover Barrow, Kendal, Penrith and Ulverston, where vacancy levels have been identified as a particular concern.
The council's latest shop counts show that Barrow recorded a vacancy rate of 25.1 per cent, the highest among the four proposed pilot towns. Kendal stood at 18.1 per cent, while Ulverston recorded 15.1 per cent and Penrith 13.1 per cent.
The authority also identified significant vacancy levels in smaller communities. Brough recorded 29.4 per cent, Shap 25 per cent and Alston 23.4 per cent. Coniston and Patterdale both recorded 20 per cent, while Bowness, Sedbergh and Milnthorpe also had notable numbers of vacant commercial units.
Under High Street Rental Auction powers, councils can arrange for a lease to be auctioned when a commercial property has remained empty for at least 12 months, or for 366 days within a two-year period. The landlord retains ownership, but the process can help secure a tenant where reasonable efforts to let the property have not been made.
The proposed scheme is intended to give suitable businesses, community organisations and other groups opportunities to occupy unused premises. Bringing empty buildings back into productive use could help increase activity, improve the appearance of shopping streets and provide space for new services and independent businesses.
The council has previously said the pilot would initially focus on the four larger town centres, with the possibility of considering other locations once the approach has been tested. Smaller communities with high vacancy rates could therefore be considered in future, subject to the scheme's progress and available resources.
Councillors are expected to consider the proposals at a Cabinet meeting on November 10. The decision will determine how the authority intends to use the new powers and whether the proposed pilot areas will move forward.
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