The number of empty shops in Scotland remains stuck at a fifth above pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest monthly figures.
Data from industry body the Scottish Retail Consortium indicates the Scottish vacancy rate remained at 15.7% for the fourth consecutive quarter.Shopping centre vacancies have worsened to 20.6% in 2023, from 20.5% in 2022, with high street vacancies remaining the same at 14.8%.SRC director David Lonsdale said the figures “underline the torpid recovery” in Scotland’s retail vacancy rate on the anniversary of shops reopening after the second Covid lockdown.
“This was the fourth successive quarter in which the proportion of empty units flatlined at elevated levels, and the ninth consecutive quarter with the vacancy rate above 15%.“Several factors are holding back retailers and other firms from taking on empty stores, including the costs crunch and lower shopper footfall due to the shift towards hybrid working and online purchasing.”
Shona Robison, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary, said the government recognised the “enormous pressures facing businesses and the Scottish Government has been engaging, directly and through key business organisations, to best understand their needs”. “We have also set out a strong non-domestic rates package, including both a freeze to the poundage and reliefs, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme which provides over £95 million of relief to the retail sector, taking almost 29,000 shops out of rates altogether.
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