Empty shops still an issue for Northampton town centre
GV of Hawkin's Bazarr in Market Walk Market Square entrance.
ONE in seven shops in Northampton town centre is now vacant, a new report has shown.
Research carried out by The Local Data Company (LDC) showed that 15.3 per cent of shops were unoccupied at the end of 2011, one per cent above the national average of 14.3 per cent.
However, Northampton compared well to other shopping centres in the region, including Leicester, which had a vacancy rate of 21.5 per cent, Corby 25 per cent and Nottingham 29 per cent.
In the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, there are currently seven empty units, including three in a row on the top floor.
But Paul Haynes, the new shopping centre manager, said he was confident the vacant units would be filled.
He said: “I think for a town the size of Northampton, and bearing in mind the state of the economy, we have pretty much the number of vacant units you would expect.
“Retailers make the majority of their profits over the Christmas and New Year period and they need to make enough to sustain them over the quieter periods of the year.
“I’ve been in business a long time and it is unusual to see so many multiple chain stores going into administration.
“You have firms such as Past Times and Thomas Cook closing down shops in key locations so vacant units have unexpectedly become available.
“But I am optimistic we will fill the vacant units as we’ve had three viewings in the past few days.”
The Local Data Company (LDC) report listed some of the big name companies that had closed down premises in Northampton in the past few months, including Focus DIY, Hawkin’s Bazaar, Jane Norman and Peacocks.
Stockport had the highest vacancy rate of large centres with more than 30 per cent, while Cambridge had the lowest with 6.4 per cent.
Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, said: “The stable top line rate of 2011 hides the significant breadth in town centre vacancy rates up and down the country and the structural issues that are at stake.”
The report said that the share of shopping taken by out-of-town shopping centres had risen to 31.5 per cent in 2011 from 28.1 per cent in 2000, but it stated the main cause for the decline of High Street shops was online shopping.
LDC also quoted research which showed that online sales doubled from 5.1 per cent in 2000 to 10.2 per cent in 2011.
Percentage of shop vacancies in East Midlands
Highest five
Nottingham 29.0
Corby 25.0
Leicester 21.5
Hinckley 19.5
Ilkeston 18.5
Northampton 15.3
Lowest five
Spalding 7.5
Skegness 6.9
Porchester 7.5
Eastgate, Lincoln 5.3
West Bridgford 3.8
Highest in England
Stockport 30.1
Lowest in England
Cambridge 6.4
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
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4x4 fan
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:03 AMWhy don't NBC or WNDC turn these properties into flats, or warehouses, lets face it, this town is going down hill fast. Perhaps the high cost of rentals for units are pushing business away, or maybe it's the knock on effect of - build cheap housing, employ cheap workforce, to sell cheap, with an end result of a cheap looking town. Why is this town hell bent on dithering about? Could someone tell me how many years have we heard about the Grosvenor Centre expansion? Companies are not waiting for Northampton to get the act together, they look elsewhere. Lets look at the Ikea debate that this town had. The land was available, Ikea wanted to build - the land is still available because the council couldn't decide what to do at the time. Ikea lost interest and built in MK.
ScaryMary2008
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:12 PMIlkeston is next to Nottingham and is so small, I imagine it doesn't take many shops to be closed before the figures are squewed. Also, they have an Ikea. I went to the Grov Centre today. Three shops next to each other are empty on the upper mall and one opposite closed last week (Past Times). I know some of these closures are due to external economic forces, but it looks really sad. Maybe reduced rents and reduced business rates woudl help start ups.
Pete Brown
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 09:47 AMWee add on to my previous post i meant to post employees not employers doh.
Pete Brown
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 09:45 AMLook what they've done to the market, which was thriving when i first moved to Northampton in 1998 Whats the point in moaning until the people of this country say ENOUGH we'll keep being ruled by an elite who have no idea about anything apart from self promotion. Our councilors are about as much use s a chocolate fireguard as are our politicians, none of them do whats best for us they only ever do whats best for their interests. They talk up the we understand we relate to that we see what you mean when its time to con us all again come polling day. They don't have the ability to see what impact their decisions have on real life and most have never had to chose between heating or eating, i wouldn't trust one as far as i could throw one, they ALL pass the buck, again just look at how the local councils are run, inspectors that have never worked in the field they are tasked with inspecting, nepotism has a large part to do with the councils problems and the fear the employers have if they dare to speak out against decisions made by those higher up the food chain.
lady muck
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:31 PMHawkins Bazaar photo is inappropriate...it is a national chain and it's difficulties are not caused by any isolated Northampton problems.
Common sense
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:12 PMWhats the vacancy rate in Milton Keynes our nearest competitor and much despised by Northampton Councillors for embarrassing them and their lack of vision?
Removed by moderator
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:17 PMNorthampton town centre is a complete and utter dump. No one has any money there, so shops cannor survive, When will people face up to reality?
lady muck
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:46 AM#5 what did I say....BBC news skirts around us...i see....Big Brother is watching us all !
lady muck
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:19 AMPending Moderation
NN3man
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:13 AMNottingham's figures???? Who cares? Ilkeston????!!!! WTF??? Our region surely includes places like Milton Keynes, Bedford, Luton, Peterborough etc... not these far reach places in the north? Where I live is far closer to London than it is Notingham and Lincoln etc...these places maybe in the East Midlands but they should create a new micro region called the 'South Midlands.'
cllrclochemerle
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:09 AMMost of what TheCount says is under the direct control of either the Borough Council or the County Council. Conclusion - its the Council wot's wrecking the town. Who's to blame? Those who voted for them in the first place. Solution - look up referendum, and use that lefislation to call the councils to account.
jenny jane
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:59 AMYou said it in one Count! Don't forget to add the extra numbers on when the re-develop the bus station site
TheCount
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:26 AMDrop the rents, drop the rates, drop the car parking, drop your over inflated salaries. It's not rocket science.
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