Stockport Council has revealed how it could soon take over empty shops as part of a drive to revive high streets.

The local authority is currently compiling lists of empty shops and high street properties across Stockport town centre as well as eight district centres across Stockport. These are Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Edgeley, Hazel Grove, Marple, Reddish, and Romiley.

This is after powers were introduced in 2023 that give councils the ability to 'require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial properties on designated high streets to new tenants'. An update on the local authority's progress is being presented to councillors next week.

Stockport Council said these steps 'will provide a viable way to ensure vacant premises once again become active contributors to the local economy and high street experience'.

Shops where the council can intervene have had to be empty continuously for more than 12 months across two years. Stockport council would have to be 'satisfied that the occupation of the premise for a suitable high-street use would be beneficial to the local economy, society, or environment'.

However not all empty shops might be brought back to life this way. Large former department stores may be subject to more complex redevelopment plans while buildings needing significant repair would likely be out of scope if the landlord is forced to pay costs.

The process is called the High Street Rental Auction Initiative. This means that where 'a landlord is not proactive or has been unable to secure a tenant', councils can step forward to find someone to move in.

Between 2024 and 2025, councils were encourage to bid for a £1.5m pot aimed at kickstarting the scheme though no council in Greater Manchester took part. By July 2026, over 40 councils have started getting involved bringing over 60 properties back into use.

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According to a council report, no auctions have taken place because landlords had been prompted to act to fill the space after councils began taking action. In June 2026, a further £10m was announced to progress the scheme.

The report added: "Stockport is fortunate that it generally does not have a high number of long standing vacant units blighting its high streets. The HSRA process is cumbersome and resource intensive and challenges have been raised relating to property conditions and legal processes.

"The main benefit of the HSRA process is that it has helped instigate more proactive discussions with landlords who have since become more active in securing tenants."

However the council wants to compile a list of properties where it could apply for government funding in the future.

In June 2025, Alex Norris MP said: "This will play a critical role in spurring regeneration, revival and renewal on a local level – and will be part of a package of measures we are deploying to put high streets and town centres back on their feet.

"We know this will take time and effort to achieve and we are under no illusions about the scale of the task we face. But we can only succeed by putting local leaders back in the driving seat as we work together to lay the ground for a better future."

In August, Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig also launched a £20m high streets fund which businesses and community groups can bid into as a way of making improvements and attracting more visitors to local shops. It comes as people around the region feel some of Greater Manchester's high streets are struggling from changing shopping habits.