Engagement exercise launched to help combat vacant commercial properties

13 October 2025

An engagement exercise has today been launched as part of a project to tackle issues with long-term empty shops in North Northamptonshire.

North Northamptonshire Council was confirmed as one of 11 ‘Early Adopters’ of the High Street Rentals Auction Programme (HSRA) announced by the Government in December last year, which will result in landlords renting out long-term empty shops to new tenants.

As part of this process, the council has launched an engagement exercise to gather thoughts from residents, community groups, businesses on the proposal.

High streets that were once the beating hearts of towns have seen a dramatic change over the past few years. It’s important that we recognise this to help towns and businesses adapt for the future.

Projects like this make such a huge difference to regenerating areas and it is great that North Northants is leading the way on this Early Adopters scheme.

This is the first stage in the process which will see another phase of more formal consultation later down the line and I would encourage everyone to get involved and share their thoughts now to help us shape the next steps.Cllr Jan O’Hara, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth

Further investigations will then be carried out to determine which area of the four town centres – Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough or Rushden are eligible for the High Street Rental Auction Programme following central Government guidelines.

To have your say, visit the council’s consultation hub for more information and this engagement exercise will be open until 9 November 2025.