One in seven shops in city centre empty
One in seven shops in the city centre are standing empty, a Mercury survey has found.
Worst-hit areas include Church Gate, Gallowtree Gate and High Street – where nearly one in four are vacant.
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Gallowtree Gate, one of Leicester's main shopping areas
However, business leaders said they were optimistic they could lead a fightback to attract new stores into the city.
Also, a new £63,000-a-year city centre manager is set to start work this month to promote Leicester to retailers as well as offering help to refurbish stores and support established businesses.
Councillor Patrick Kitterick, cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: "This is a national problem. The departures of several chains, such as Zavvi and Whittards, have been disappointing, but we are not alone.
"This month, we will have a new city centre director and city management committee, which will be very retailer led.
"It will help tackle issues such as dealing with empty units and really listening to retailers about what is happening in the city centre and what needs to be done, so there are some shafts of light in difficult times."
A total of 104 out of 708 shops and business units surveyed by the Mercury in the city centre were empty or boarded up – equating to just under 15 per cent.
That puts it higher than the national average of 11 per cent, but in line with retail figures recorded in the Midlands.
Our count included shop units in the Highcross and Haymarket shopping centres, High Street, Gallowtree Gate, Humberstone Gate, Granby Street, Church Gate, St Martin's Square, Silver Street, Cank Street, Market Street and Belvoir Street.
Dermot Breen, chairman of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce's city centre committee, was far from downhearted.
He said: "We are optimistic. I can think of a good dozen units that are already being looked at by retailers to move into."
However, traders say they are worried about the knock-on effects which empty shops have on their business.
Nilesh Vadoliya, who took over the Premier store, in Granby Street, four months ago, said: "More shops are now left empty and people just don't come down here as often. It's very quiet."
Shoppers said work needed to be done urgently to replace closed stores.
Graham Larratt, 46, from Braunstone, said: "It's easy to blame the recession, but the council still need to work to get more businesses in."
Angela Roach, 51, of Newtown Linford, said: "It's been the weaker shops that have been pushed out of business. I'd love to see empty buildings replaced with book shops, or more places to relax in the middle of shopping sessions."
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by Julie, Leicester
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 2:34PM
“C.J. -You find it 'depressing' that there are 'too many' pound shops and think it makes the city 'look poor'? Welcome to the real world! There have always been many in this city who ARE poor, and there are even more people struggling now in the current recession. If shopping in pound shops and discount shops rather than more expensive chains means people have more chance of paying their mortgages and keeping a roof over their kid's heads then I think that's far more important than the gilt of a city that 'looks rich' but whose shops are mostly empty showrooms for the kind of looks and brand names obsessed lifestyles that led to this recession.”
by Dave, H&B
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 2:14PM
“I'm still shopping in the centre because I can still park within a 5min walk for free.
Once these few spaces are gone, I'll never come back to the centre.
What is the point of spending £4 for parking when you go for a £30-40 shopping ? 10% of your total spends for the parking ?? Thanks, but it's not for me !”
by mw, Wreake Valley
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:39PM
“It is OK claiming that this is a 'national problem', and yes, there is a recession on, but why haven't shops like French Connection and Habitat pulled out of Nottingham as well? Have House of Fraser is Nottingham changed to an outlet store? For all the gusto about competing with Nottingham / Birmingham etc, and all this talk about 5 star 37 story hotels etc, all that has happened is that Leicester continues to fall behind Nottingham.”
by CJ, Leics
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:36PM
“Leicester City centre has theses simple words on almost all the retail outlets on Gallowtree Gate ¿Closing down sale¿. Most shops have just moved about 100 yards down the road (yes the Highcross) stores like Topman/Topshop etc. Why not keep both branches open like they do in Birmingham? If anything the new Highcross has taken jobs away, instead of creating jobs it seems. We have far too many pound shops, it makes Leicester look like a poor city, (which maybe true). I find the City centre depressing and a lack of shops still despite the so called Highcross. I can¿t even find a pair of trainers in Leicester yes we have a JJB and Sports Direct, but have you seen the lack of stock in those places? Even JD sports have a small but expensive range! All the money they¿re wasting in paving over the old roads down Gramby Street also, gosh all I see is about two coffee shops from the train station to the Clock Tower that are still open and have customers!”
by Dodgite, Braunstone
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:24PM
“Whats this nonsense i hear about people not having the money anymore? The other day, i was passing by Homemade Burger Co in the new Highcross area and that place was rammed!!! If none of you have been there or seen the menu, on average, it is £7 for a burger only!! Obviously people have got money to burn if they are eating in there.”
by James Johnstone, Stoneygate
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:19PM
“It was always obvious that this was going to happen and it was there for all to see on the day the Highcross opened, Gallowtree Gate resembled a ghost town, empty shop units everywhere. Leicester is not and never will be a ¿shopping capital¿ and can only sustain a certain number of shops.
The Highcross, which essentially is only a minor retail extension to the shires, has directed the foot flow away from the city centre streets just as the Shires did to the Haymarket shopping centre and around Humberstone Gate. From what I can see it appears the town centre is shifting towards Vaughan Way, especially with the next phase of development due to take place.”
by Graham, Leicester
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 12:53PM
“For me the Highcross is the Kings new clothes. Most shops duplicate what is sold in John Lewis or visa versa. Independant shops get no support in Leicestershire. Parking is always made easier for the big stores. How any small stores have survived the re devlopment of High street is a miracle.I look forward to seeing the Highcross in 3 years time when the anchor store(John Lewis )starts to pay rent!!!!!!!”
by John Stitch, Leicester Town
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 12:44PM
“I don't know if I completely agree - Dave, Leicester. Recession or no recession there are always plenty of people about with plenty of money, probably always will be. Look at the number of people driving around in cars that will have cost between 30 and 40 thousand pounds, compared to 10/15 years ago.
The Highcross for the 'haves' and the pound shops and charity shops for the 'have nots'.
It's a basic mirrored reflection of the two-tier society we've all been living in since the late '70's ...”
by Martin, leicester
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 12:38PM
“Some good points raised in the comments but sadly most are far wide of the mark. The City Council can't do much about the vacant units but what they can do is promote the City Centre and make accessing it easier. The Council has been on the back foot on both these issues for 30 years. They had no vision and no objectives they have only just created the City Centre manager's position.
I accept they have begun to make some of the right moves ¿ repaving of the pedestrian areas. However, they are coming from a low base where as others have been at it for years. Park and ride ¿ still waiting for it to happen. They know the market place detracts from the City centre but procrastinate over making decisions about its future ¿ stick it down the end of Belgrave Gate. The regeneration heads know the City needs a retail hub around Granby Street (it's in all the documents going back 6 years) to balance out the HX but where are the plans?
In order to sustain a vibrant retail core the City needs to attract visitors from further than the suburbs and for that you need good access. The Ivanhoe line would have provided a rail link from the M1 J21a direct to the City Centre ¿ 25 years of talking. Fosse Park which attracts the highest rents in the UK has the old Central line going right past leading to the City ¿ can't touch that it's parkland. City Challenge provided a road running along the canal ¿ oh no we can't make it a major thoroughfare and bypass Narborough Road. Ross Way about to be developed ¿ same answer can't use it to take traffic away from Belgrave Road .
Missed opportunities that make me question what the Council want from our City Centre other than a proliferation of pound shops and fast food outlets ¿ the last thing we need is more charity shops.”
by natasha, leicester
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 12:18PM
“Blame the Highcross! All the stores moved into there and left empty holes in the highstreets. I think it is one of the worst ideas Leicester Council ever did by accepting the planning for the place! Where is the heart of the city centre now? In the horrid capitalist Highcross centre!”