Britain's high streets becoming 'ghost towns' due to brutal closures – and this is town with most vacancies

3, March 2018
Stephen Hayward

High streets could become ‘ghost towns’ it was warned (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

The rapid growth of online shopping, coupled with crippling business rates and rents rises, has already cut a swathe through hundreds of town centres.

Britain’s boarded up high streets are turning vast urban areas into ghost towns – with more shop closures ahead, warn retail experts.

The rapid growth of online shopping, coupled with crippling business rates and rents rises, has already cut a swathe through hundreds of town centres.

As retailers struggle, the closure of pubs, police stations and bank branches has only added to the air of desolation.

The warning of more casualties follows the collapse of Toys R Us and Maplins which put more than 5,500 jobs at risk last week.

Italian restaurant chain Prezzo, which has about 4,500 staff, is closing nearly a third of its outlets in a rescue bid. And other big retailers like New Look, House of Fraser and Debenhams, face an uncertain future.

Toys R Us collapsed into administration this week (Image: PA)

Hours later, Maplin followed (Image: PA)

While Prezzo is set to close a third of its restaurants (Image: Manchester Evening News)

Independent retail analyst Richard Hyman says 2018 is shaping up as the most brutal year for the retail industry in recent memory.

He said: “This year has already eclipsed 2017, the toughest retail year the industry has seen.

“And each year for the past five years or so has been getting more challenging.”

General view of closed shop fronts in the Stoke city centre (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

Burslem in Stoke has the worst vacancy rate in the UK (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

He believes there will be more closure announcements as chains struggle to meet rent and rate demands.

Mr Hyman said: “It’s only weeks before Quarter Day, when most retailers pay rent, and a lot of finance directors will be increasingly anxious. More closures are inevitable.”

He also says many retailers are “in denial” over changing shopping habits.

New Look faces an uncertain future (Image: PA)

As does Debenhams (Image: PA)

“They take customers for granted. Around 15 years ago retail spending online was pretty much zero. Now it’s well over £50billion a year.

“Most of that has been cannibalised from shops,” said Mr Hyman.

The sorry state of our high streets is nowhere more evident than in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, named as the country’s worst performing town.

Nearly a third of its shops are empty, three times the national average, says research by the Local Data Company. Second worst is Dewsbury, West Yorks, at 29.1 per cent and Newport, South Wales, at 27.2.

House of Fraser is also facing tough times ahead (Image: Getty)

Mr Hyman says a weak economy, frozen wages and the rising cost of living, combined with an increase in shopping centres and retail parks and the rise of the internet, has fuelled the high street crisis.

He also blames councils for using high streets as “cash cows” with exorbitant parking charges and business rates.

He said: “Local authorities have been far too greedy, jacked up rates but done little or nothing to improve services in return. Councils need to take a more proactive role in protecting and supporting their towns.

“If you think about all the job losses, its been totally predictable and government has done nothing about it.”

Town famed for its pottery past has worst UK shop vacancy rate

Bustling family-run shops once dominated the old Potteries town of Burslem, now part of Stoke-on-Trent.

Now nearly a THIRD of its stores are boarded up – the worst vacancy rate in the UK.

It was once the proud home of Josiah Wedgwood’s first factory in the 18th century. But after the closure of big ceramics firms like Royal Doulton in the 1990s, its decline has been rapid.

From once thriving Victorian and Georgian stores to modern post-war outlets, many are boarded.

Almost a third of shops in Burslem are shut (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

It has the worst shop vacancy rate in the UK (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

NatWest and Boot went recently. Lloyds, the town’s last bank, is next.

Many independent traders, from newsagents, cafes and travel agents, to tailors, greengrocers and jewellers, have given up the ghost.

Burslem is famed for its pottery past (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

Survivors, who open on limited days, blame a lack of free parking.

Convenience store owner Amit Patel said: “There are double yellow lines everywhere.”

Yet Stoke city council believes retailers can be wooed back to the town by spending £10million developing brownfield sites for 1,100 new homes, increasing footfall.

Closed down shops in the centre of Dewsbury (Image: Andrew McCaren)

Dewsbury has the second worst vacancy rate (Image: Andrew McCaren)

The former wool town of Dewsbury, West Yorks, has the country’s second worst vacancy rate at 29 per cent.

Mark Royrke, 45, who has run a shooting and fishing tackle shop since 1966, said: “You wouldn’t believe the change in footfall in town.

“I take a wage if I can but some weeks it’s not possible.” He blames lack of investment by the council.

Florist Angela Walker, 52, blamed anti-social behaviour for keeping people away. “Elderly customers who have always used the market don’t feel safe. I am worried about what the future holds.”