Town centre shop vacancy rates remain stable in June
Town centre shop vacancy rates in the UK have remained stable for the fifth month in a row, according to figures released by the Local Data Company.
In June the shop vacancy rate stayed at 14.1%, reflecting a gradual overall improvement in the number of empty shops in town centres since the end of 2010.
Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company said: “This is the fifth consecutive month that the national shop vacancy rate has held at 14.1%. In part this is as a result of growing consumer confidence or acceptance of the ‘new norm’ as well as the growth of other sectors such as charity shops, convenience food stores and nail bars replacing traditional shop uses such as bookshops, clothing and electronics.
“In addition, we are seeing a rise in the number of leisure units, some of which are a result of change of use from shops to leisure. This growth is reflected by the fact that the leisure vacancy rate is half that of the shop vacancy rate at 7.1%.”
