Boost for town's high street after council targets empty shops

"We've got these powers and we're not afraid to use them."

Strong words from council leader Millie Earl, who said she has legal letters ready to post to landlords who have failed to engage in conversation about empty shops in Bournemouth town centre.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council was granted the power to hold high street rental auctions nearly a year ago by the government.

So far, it has not had to actually use it - the threat has been enough, with 35 new shops opening in the past 18 months.

Under a high street rental auction, the local authority works with the landlord of a commercial property within a designated area that has been empty for 365 days within a 24-month period.

If they do not come to an agreement, independent traders or local community groups can then bid for a one to five-year tenancy.

This is at market rates but usually slightly below average, so often helps start-ups.

In Bournemouth's case, the area applies to the zone spanning from Durley Chine Road along West Cliff, through Bournemouth town centre, and on to Manor Road in East Cliff.

Bournemouth has suffered an above-average vacancy rate for several years after the loss of three department stores - Dingles, Debenhams and Beales, as well as several national clothing chains.

But the council said since it has had this power, it was able to fill 20% of empty shops.

Alice Parmenter is the creative director of Pineapple Island, a jewellery brand, which opened its first shop and jewellery-making hub a few weeks ago in an old bus station information centre near the Lower Gardens.

She said anything that helped independents open up was positive.

"It's important people can test a concept, try out a product - if the initial rent is too high, it's really hard for small businesses," she said.

But others whose businesses have been in the town for years say business rates are the reason many cannot survive.

Luke Dennison, from Ashes Menswear, which has operated on Old Christchurch Road since the 1980s, said "many businesses come and go around us".

He said the business rates system was still penalising high street businesses over those in out-of-town shopping centres or operating online out of warehouses.

"The system was created 30 years ago when the high street was king, but it's not anymore," he said.

"Out of towns and online have a far bigger advantage now because their rates are so much lower."

The government said it was making moves to change this with the business rate tax for 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties cut by 5p in this financial year, funded by a higher rate on the top 1% most expensive properties, including big online warehouses.