Vacant shops on North East high streets up 15% in three years

The number of vacant shops in the North East and North Yorkshire has increased by more than 15% in the past three years, an investigation by ITV’s Tonight programme has found.

Almost 14% of the region’s shopping premises are empty and a third of vacant stores have been unoccupied for more than three years. Nationally, 12% of shops are vacant.

In research conducted in conjunction with the Local Data Company, Tonight also found that the total number of people visiting Britain’s high streets has fallen by 20% in the past decade, as consumers turn to online shopping and retailers struggle with rising costs and business rates.

In the last five years alone, almost 400 shops in the North East and North Yorkshire have been converted into housing, offices or warehouse space.

Last week the British Retail Consortium dubbed 2019 the “worst year on record” for the industry.

Jake Berry, Minister for the northern powerhouse and local growth, said the government was doubling small business rate relief with “a huge reduction next year”.

In Morpeth, in Northumberland, where vacancy rates are 7%, businesses say the high street is anything but dead.

Harry Hall opened his cafe and wine bar last Spring. Like the coffee and cake he serves, he says if it's not good enough people won't come back.

And as our reporter Katie Cole found when she visited Morpeth, not all high streets are beset with problems.

But the government says it is committed to acting to save those parts of the high street which are struggling. Jake Berry said:

Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Loftus and Blyth Town Centre are among the areas which will benefit from the Future High Street Fund.