Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to proposals for high street rental auctions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, whether he is taking steps to ensure that communities will be involved in decisions involving the conversion of vacant commercial properties.

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) will be a permissive power for local authorities, which they can use alongside other regeneration tools at their discretion. In line with the Government's position on localism, we believe local authorities are uniquely placed to determine what is appropriate in their own area. Local authorities will have robustly considered the needs of the community in the development of local plans and other such regeneration programmes.

In the identification of high street in local plans, local authorities will have been through a minimum of two rounds of consultation and involvement of the community in drafting. HRSAs will be designated by local authorities based on their deep knowledge of their area, and with that they will ensure that the needs of their community are met.

Government is consulting on several areas of HSRA policy and we would encourage all stakeholders with an interest in their high street to complete it before the consultation closes on 23 June.