High Street Rental Auction - Lewisham Pilot

Overview

Across the borough, the Council is working to improve our high streets so that the local businesses and the wider community can thrive.

Unfortunately, in Lewisham, several of our high streets have empty commercial properties, which can take away from the liveliness of the town centre and impact other local businesses. These vacant properties may even be rented out but do not have any businesses actively trading there.

To tackle this London-wide issue, the government has introduced a new High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) pilot programme which gives local authorities the power to require landlords who have persistently vacant commercial properties to rent them out new tenants such as local businesses or community groups. To use these powers, the Council must designate an area or street where are there are a number of long-term empty properties. 

The Council has undertaken a review and identified Forest Hill as having the highest number of vacant units, and therefore a potential location for a pilot scheme.  

This also follows the Council’s adoption of an Article 4 direction in 2024, which is designed to protect commercial property from being converted into residential without planning permission.

Why your views matter

Before the Council can designate an area where a High Street Rental Auction power can be used, we must undertake a public engagement for a minimum of 28 days. From 2 June  until 30 June residents, local businesses and landlords are encouraged to have their say and leave feedback on the proposed utilisation of the HSRA powers.