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| 19,000 shops 'closed this year' | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| About 12,000 independent shops and nearly 7,000 branches of major chains have closed so far this year in England and Wales, according to research. | About 12,000 independent shops and nearly 7,000 branches of major chains have closed so far this year in England and Wales, according to research. |
| The Local Data Company (LDC) says the average retail vacancy rate has risen from 4% a year ago to almost 12% now. | The Local Data Company (LDC) says the average retail vacancy rate has risen from 4% a year ago to almost 12% now. |
| Margate in Kent is the worst hit town, with a rate of 25%. Cities in the north of England like Leeds and Liverpool also have rates of more than 20%. | Margate in Kent is the worst hit town, with a rate of 25%. Cities in the north of England like Leeds and Liverpool also have rates of more than 20%. |
| LDC said empty shops had "a corrosive effect upon the confidence of an area". | LDC said empty shops had "a corrosive effect upon the confidence of an area". |
| The collapse of Woolworths has had a major impact on high streets, LDC said, with about 70% of its 800-plus shops still lying empty. | The collapse of Woolworths has had a major impact on high streets, LDC said, with about 70% of its 800-plus shops still lying empty. |
| 'Weakness and failure' | 'Weakness and failure' |
| CASE STUDY Mark Broad, Business reporter, BBC News, Margate | |
| A model of a cup cake made out of used newspapers may not seem like the most obvious way to fight the recession, but for Margate at least it's a start. | |
| One of the town's shopping arcades has been transformed with local artists commissioned to come up with paintings and sculptures for the windows of vacant premises. | |
| "We've had a very positive reaction from the public," says Heather Sawney, who developed the displays for Thanet District Council. | |
| "Having the art in the windows is no substitute for having new tenants for the shops, but at least it's a start." Derby: Battling on amid boarded-up shops | |
| The research suggests that northern England and the Midlands have generally fared worst. | The research suggests that northern England and the Midlands have generally fared worst. |
| At 22%, Derby has the highest retail vacancy rate of any major urban centre, with Wolverhampton close behind. | At 22%, Derby has the highest retail vacancy rate of any major urban centre, with Wolverhampton close behind. |
| The south of England generally fared better, with only Croydon and Exeter featuring among the 10 worst town centres with vacancy rates of 15.4% and 14.9% respectively. | The south of England generally fared better, with only Croydon and Exeter featuring among the 10 worst town centres with vacancy rates of 15.4% and 14.9% respectively. |
| In central London, 12.8% of shops are empty. | In central London, 12.8% of shops are empty. |
| Nottingham was one of the best performers, with a rate of just 2.5%. | Nottingham was one of the best performers, with a rate of just 2.5%. |
| "Just as thriving town centres demonstrate vitality, empty shops lay bare weakness and failure," LDC said. | "Just as thriving town centres demonstrate vitality, empty shops lay bare weakness and failure," LDC said. |
| "Empty shops have a corrosive effect upon the confidence of any area - and their numbers are growing. | "Empty shops have a corrosive effect upon the confidence of any area - and their numbers are growing. |
| "The damage is spread across the country and affects all levels of the retail hierarchy from the largest regional centre to the smallest high street." | "The damage is spread across the country and affects all levels of the retail hierarchy from the largest regional centre to the smallest high street." |
| 'Failure to trade' | 'Failure to trade' |
| The study said there had been a 50% drop in new store openings in the past 18 months and in some areas, a marked increase "churn" - where a shop is opened and closed repeatedly under new guises. | The study said there had been a 50% drop in new store openings in the past 18 months and in some areas, a marked increase "churn" - where a shop is opened and closed repeatedly under new guises. |
| The highest churn rate, more than 700%, was found in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with the next worst - Wolverhampton - seeing a rise of 387%. | The highest churn rate, more than 700%, was found in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with the next worst - Wolverhampton - seeing a rise of 387%. |
| RETAIL VACANCY RATES Margate: 25%Derby: 22%Croydon: 15.4%Central London: 12.8% | RETAIL VACANCY RATES Margate: 25%Derby: 22%Croydon: 15.4%Central London: 12.8% |
| "In a recession, churn tends to be driven more by a failure to trade and this time around has not been an exception," LDC said. | "In a recession, churn tends to be driven more by a failure to trade and this time around has not been an exception," LDC said. |
| The research firm did say there were some signs of recovery, with official figures showing an increase in sales volumes of 2.9% in June compared to the previous year. | The research firm did say there were some signs of recovery, with official figures showing an increase in sales volumes of 2.9% in June compared to the previous year. |
| This was "way above expectations and could set the scene for a stronger than expected second half of the year," it said. | This was "way above expectations and could set the scene for a stronger than expected second half of the year," it said. |
| "However, this has to be balanced against continued rises in unemployment and therefore less spending power overall." | "However, this has to be balanced against continued rises in unemployment and therefore less spending power overall." |
| In some towns, including Margate, councils have offered vacant premises to local artists to display their work and try to improve the appearance of the high street. | In some towns, including Margate, councils have offered vacant premises to local artists to display their work and try to improve the appearance of the high street. |
| A spokeswoman for Communities and Local Government stressed that a lot was being done to help those struggling on the high street. | |
| All unoccupied properties are exempt from empty property rates for the first three months and 70% of all properties won't pay any empty rates if they fall empty, she said. | |