Are our high streets in danger of becoming retail ghost towns?

Empty shops are continuing to plague the high street with vacancy rates higher than average across many UK regions says a new study, a situation which, says the British Retail Consortium (BRC), is causing “real damage.”

Although vacancy rates are not rising dramatically and long-term regeneration plans are in place, the BRC is concerned that the figures at that moment are still at a damaging level and represent a real lack of confidence throughout the country.

"It's a small mercy that shop vacancy rates are not rising but they are still worryingly high in many locations,” said Stephen Robertson, British Retail Consortium Director General.

He continued: “Long-term plans for reviving our high streets are good but real damage is being done now and needs to be addressed now.  The scale of retail failures since Christmas and number of shops standing empty show the effects of high costs and weak demand on retail businesses and the people and places that rely on them.

"Recommendations on town centre management, investment and access which have come from the BRC and the Portas' review can help but they are not enough. The Government should be keeping down the cost pressures it is responsible for. Most urgently, it should reduce the eye-watering 5.6 per cent business rates increase it plans to impose in April." 

The BRC’s call for action coincides with mixed results for high street stores this week with Amazon announcing a move into the high street, but footwear retailer, Shoon, has collapsed into administration and Peacocks’ administrators are considering further bids for the company.