Yorkshire one of the worst-hit for empty shops

Nearly 17 per cent of shops in Yorkshire and The Humber are empty compared with nine per cent in London.

Within Yorkshire itself there are wide variations.

Dewsbury and Grimsby, which lies just south of the border in Lincolnshire, are among the worst performing towns, but York is the best performing large centre after Cambridge. Harrogate also put in a strong performance.

The Local Data Company’s latest report analysed over 1,900 town centres, shopping centres and retail parks in the first half of 2013.

Whilst the vacancy rate in the top 650 town centres is stable at 14.1 per cent, the Local Data Company said this figure masks significant differences in performance by location.

It said that the North/South divide is clearly apparent with the North West the worst hit with one in five shops (20.1 per cent) lying vacant.

After the North West, the North East and the West Midlands were worst hit and both reported vacancy rates of over 18 per cent.

Yorkshire and the Humber lies in fourth place with vacancy rates of 16.9 per cent.

The East Midlands has vacancy rates of 15.8 per cent, followed by the South West at 13.5 per cent and the South East at 13.3 per cent.

London and the East of England were the best performers at 9.4 per cent and 12.8 per cent respectively.

Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company, said: “This report clearly shows that whilst the rise of empty shops has stalled, it still remains stubbornly high for many towns up and down the country.

“Since August 2010 the national average has been above 14 per cent, with a significant number being ‘long-term sick’ with little or no prospect of reoccupation as shops.

“In the top 650 town centres alone these empty shops equate to 23 Sheffield city centres being devoid of any trading shops or leisure businesses.”

Of the top 25 worst areas for vacant shops, 21 are in the North, Midlands or Wales while 22 out of the top 25 best performing centres 22 are south of the ‘Watford Gap’.

The report said that small towns with less than 200 shops are in the healthiest state with vacancy rates of 9.2 per cent.

Retail parks follow at 9.6 per cent. The Local Data Company said that high profile retail casualties such as Comet have contributed to the decline.

The worst vacancy rates were found in shopping centres where the average is 16.1 per cent, an all-time high and up from 15.6 per cent in 2012.

The figure is significantly higher than vacancy rates in large cities and towns (over 400 shops) at 13.5 per cent and medium-sized towns (between 200 and 399 shops) at 11.9 per cent.

The Local Data Company said there are 22,339 vacant shops in the top 650 town centres. The worst performing large centre is Blackburn with vacancy rates of nearly 27 per cent, a sharp increase on 2012.

The Local Data Company said the North West had “a dreadful year” with an average 5.6 per cent increase in vacancy in its largest centres.

The fourth worst performing large centre is Grimsby with vacancy rates of 25.5 per cent

At the other end of the scale, the best performing large centre is Cambridge with an improving vacancy rate of 7.0 per cent, closely followed by York at 7.1.

The report said that London and the South East dominate the table of best performers, but York, Harrogate, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen all make an appearance.

The worst performing medium-sized centre is Bracknell with vacancy rates of 26.4 per cent. Dewsbury lies in fifth place with 24.2 per cent of its shops closed.

Mr Hopkinson said that demolition or alternative use is the only option for the vast majority of these surplus shops.

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