Letter: Empty Shop Numbers Still Increasing

Published on: 2 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 2 Nov, 2018

From Tony Rooth

Independent borough councillor for Pilgrims (Seale, Puttenham, Shackleford & Wanborough)

The state of retail in our town centre had concerned me for some time, so just after the New Year sales I walked round the centre and noted how many of our shops were empty. Of course, there will always be some as one business replaces another so it can take time to find a new tenant and refit the shop.

On becoming an Independent councillor in June, I had another walk round and was very surprised that the number had doubled to 22, many in upper High Street.

Most shops also had sales advertised in the window. “Up to 50% off ” was the average with several up to 70%. Seasonal sales in summer are commonplace but I had not seen before almost every retailer with big discounts going on for weeks.

The potential closure of some Debenhams’ stores prompted me to walk around as we approached the end of October. There was a noticeable increase in the number of empty units in upper and lower High Street, elsewhere little change. Tunsgate Quarter remains relatively quiet with several units still empty.

What are the causes of this? Internet shopping must be one. Perhaps shops in future will mainly be required as only front windows or collection points? Such a change results in financial problems for retailers (especially chains) who face high rents and business rates, political and economic uncertainty, including Brexit and, with the increased uncertainty, more personal reluctance to spend, as well as concerns about access and parking in the town centre.

As a result, I filed a submission for the Local Plan major modifications. The original  Local Plan was based on “retail-led” regeneration and has been “modified” in words, although the figure of 41,000 extra sq ft of planned retail remains.

In my view, retail space will not expand to that extent but this will offer the possibility for more affordable housing on brownfield sites and, hopefully, substantially reduce the prospect and scale of development on precious green belt.

In the recent consultation on the changes to Guildford’s Local Plan I submitted the following: “There is a serious question, potentially [a] fundamental flaw in the submission Local Plan between the assessment of retail [and] office allocation especially in the town centre and the resulting demand for housing on the green belt.

“In short, the town centre will not support the amount of planned retail, in particular in the light of the continuing and increasing challenges presented by internet shopping.

“Shops in our town centre are closing because of various factors, including business rates and rents. This can be seen from the number of empty premises especially on the Upper High Street, North Street and in the new Tunsgate Quarter.

“Many chains are not occupying or closing shops either because they do not have the continuing need for premises, are in financial difficulties (eg House of Fraser ) or have gone into administration(eg  Maplins).

“This fundamental change in spatial allocation to the retail sector means there is more land and potential for housing and other development in the town centre. A knock-on effect would be to increase the potential for further housing on brownfield sites and hence reduce the pressure for housing in the green belt especially in the light of the potential reduction in housing need following the revised ONS figures.”

“Therefore, I think the council needs to carefully assess both the retail and office needs in our town centre and the potential additional space available for additional housing development there subject to suitable scale, height, design and views across our town centre landscape. The borough needs more affordable, social and public-sector housing for the likes of nurses, police and other much-needed public services.”

Share This Post