Councillors need powers to be able to try and get empty buildings, especially large commercial units back into use says one central Swindon councillor.

After hearing a briefing to the growing the economy scrutiny committee on regeneration efforts in the town centre, Conservative Old Town member Nick Burns-Howell raised the issue of Regent Circus and the empty Morrisons unit – which has lain vacant since November 2019, nearly three years ago.

He said: "The elephant in the room is Regent Circus. The Morrisons unit is still empty and I’d like Swindon Borough Council to recognise that’s an issue and challenge it.

“It’s a great location and a big site and there are multiple potential uses for it.

Coun Burns-Howell was told the council has no statutory powers to force the building’s owners, investment fund Aberdeen Standard, to get in new tenants.

The council’s cabinet member for strategic infrastructure and planning, Gary Sumner said: “We have met with Aberdeen Standard. The fact is Morrisons have a long lease on the site and had five years rent-free, and they chose to close the supermarket but are still paying rent and business rates until the end of the lease.

“Aberdeen Standard will not be willing to lose a good tenant which is paying a good rent and diminish its return to shareholders and reduce the value of its asset.

“It would be difficult to persuade them that made sense.”

Coun Sumner said there was a similar covenant meaning the operator of the closed Cineworld multiplex at Regent Circus was also continuing to pay in a similar arrangement.

Told there are discussions in parliament about increasing the powers available to local authorities to bring empty units back into use, Coun Burns-Howell said: “I think it would be helpful to explain the situation.

“I’d call on our local MPs to work to give us the powers to get on with the regeneration plans we have, including being able to get all parties around a table to try and resolve this.

“I understand the pension fund’s position, but it's all very well just keeping this as an asset on a balance sheet. It could be used for so much- my initial thoughts could be as a sort of fall for food trucks and stalls – pop ups could hire a slot by the week, or something.”

Last year a fellow councillor, Dale Heenan wrote to Morrisons asking it to give up the lease, on which it is still paying £1m a year rent, plus business rates. It is suggested there are still 11 years on the lease.

At the time Morrisons said it was not able to comment on the matter.