|
Trade News Archive 2009 January February March April May June July August
Subscribe to our newsletter Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory
14th August 2009
For every store opened, six close in north Wales
The UK retail sector has been hard-hit over the past year and north Wales has proven no exception, with six shops closing for every one that opens.
That is according to the Local Data Company (LDC), which conducted retail space surveys in a number of north Wales towns in order to evaluate the impact of the recession on the areas high street.
Worst affected was the port town of Holyhead, which now has 39 per cent of its retail space lying empty.
Llandudno has suffered the highest number of closures, with 139 of its town centre stores now vacant - a year-on-year rise of 16.5 per cent from two per cent to 18.5 per cent.
Matthew Hopkinson, LDC director, said that although the recession-induced demise of local stores was not individual to north Wales, the area was coping relatively well as a result of a number of towns' isolation.
"Across the country the trend is the same with many more shops closing than opening, but the retailers in North Wales are hanging tough," he said to the Daily Post.
He added: "The vacancy rates there compared to the rest of the UK are pretty good. I think this is because some of the smaller centres … are 20 to 30 minutes away from other big towns and their catchment area is pretty static."
Communities secretary John Denham this week announced a £3 million package to turn Britain's boarded-up high street shops into community-enhancing centres, such as galleries and cafes.
(c) 2009
Comment on this news story
Trade News Archive 2008 December November October September August July June May April March February January
|
