Mansfield District Council is launching a consultation on a new scheme that could force landlords to lease long-term empty commercial units in the town centre.
The High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) scheme is a government initiative that gives local authorities in England powers to compel landlords to rent out properties that have remained vacant for extended periods. Mansfield is participating in the scheme as part of a national programme.
How the scheme will work
Where landlords fail to rent out eligible properties themselves, the council can step in and market them through an auction process. The aim is to support local businesses, community organisations and start-ups looking to establish themselves in the town centre.
The scheme will be used across a designated area of Mansfield town centre where several units have remained vacant for extended periods.
Wider regeneration plans
The council is delivering the scheme alongside an ambitious programme of town centre regeneration, including the £30 million Mansfield Connect project, public realm improvements across the town centre, and the redevelopment of White Hart Street. The former retail site, which has stood empty for several years, will be transformed to provide new social housing.
The consultation
The council is required to bring forward an initial consultation on designating an HSRA area within the town centre, focusing on locations with long-term vacant properties outside of existing or proposed developments.
The consultation will open on 28 September 2026 and run for 28 days. The scheme will be launched by 26 October 2026. The High Street Rental Auction initiative is funded by the UK Government.
Council response
Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: "We've been listening to what people in Mansfield have been telling us about how it feels to see empty shops in our town centre, and this gives us the power to tackle that issue.
"We'll be engaging directly with owners of properties that stand empty for long periods of time and challenging them to get them back into use. There are businesses, entrepreneurs and community groups that would love the opportunity to set up in our town centre, and we want to open the door to them. We are very much open to conversations with the owners of properties which have been vacant for a long period and if the HSRA process brings this about, I would urge them to come forward and talk to us."