Number of empty business premises rises by 30% (From York Press)
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Number of empty business premises in York rises by 30%
8:00am Friday 25th May 2012 in News
By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk
THE number of empty business premises in York has increased by 30 per cent in the last four years, figures show.
City of York Council statistics reveal that on average there were 688 shops, offices, warehouses and other business premises standing vacant in 2011, compared with 530 in 2008.
But business leaders have defended the city, saying it retained a diverse offering with many shops celebrating milestone anniversaries in the city and many sectors “standing strong”.
So far this year, the number of empty businesses month-on-month has fluctuated between 648 and 697 However, the rate at which empty premises are increasing has significantly slowed – after a leap from 530 in 2008 to 682 in 2009, numbers stood at 683 in 2010 and at 688 in 2011.
Len Cruddas, interim chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said he believed many sectors, such as retail, were standing strong in York.
He said: “It feels to me that there are quite a few businesses doing well in York at the moment.
“The overall picture in York is strong and it compares favourably to the rest of the country. The underlying strength of York is its diversity – there’s lots going on over a range of sectors.”
Ian Floyd, director of customer and business support services at the city council, said: “The Centre For Cities report 2011 listed York as the third fastest growing city in the UK and our figures for registered business-rated properties reflects this, with a significant increase across the city since 2007.
“We have also seen a fall in empty business premises since this time last year.”
Statistics indicate York has been relatively unscathed by the recession compared to other parts of the country. Earlier this year The Press reported how York city centre has a retail vacancy rate of less than ten per cent compared with a UK average of 17.2 per cent.
Rohan, the British outdoor clothing brand, is celebrating 21 years in the city this weekend.
Gary Sutemire, the store manager in Stonegate, said: “Other than last year we have had year-on-year growth here in York. We have bucked the trend other businesses have seen.
“I think York is quite robust. I have noticed an influx of overseas tourists over the last two years, which has added to our success.”
Comments(19)
The Grim Reaper
says...
8:40am Fri 25 May 12
meme
says...
8:59am Fri 25 May 12
Rents will not justify new build and demand is negligible so there is a latent disaster looming in the commercial sector. Lots should be pulled down and turned to other uses before it turns into a desert
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
9:07am Fri 25 May 12
tommyinyork
says...
9:32am Fri 25 May 12
The Great Buda
says...
9:34am Fri 25 May 12
York needs to realise that and stop pandering to the few traders who refuse to evolve with the times.
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
9:43am Fri 25 May 12
tommyinyork wrote:Alas, I hate the Tories as much as you but the imminent collapse of your westernised way of life has very little to do with them or any other British political party.
the times of the tories cause this
All this gerrymandering and postulating at yet another round of European meetings has just served to highlight the massive divisions that exist between different countries in the Eu. It's only going to end one way, we're all going to feel it and it won't be nice. You can put things off as long as you want but it doesn't solve a problem.
Stupidyorkpeople
says...
9:45am Fri 25 May 12
2,Rates are nearly as much as the rent in most cases
3, practically impossible to get planning to change use from Industrial to retail
4, Several businesses need direct access for cars , if selling bulky items etc .
I have been looking for a shop in or around York for 18 months now and NOTHING fits the bill - York is loosing businesses because of this
Elephant
says...
10:11am Fri 25 May 12
ReginaldBiscuit wrote:Absolutely spot on. People are failing to see the shift happening here. The City needs to move with the trends and regenerate the City Centre as a place to live.
York's doing much better than some other cities. If the council needs housing and being as most shopping is being pushed out towns, why not re-urbanate the cities? The council could place people in these empty properties.
peterstreet
says...
12:13pm Fri 25 May 12
roskoboskovic wrote:please be sure you know what you are talking about before posting as you are making yourself look stupid along with the rest of you footy fans! read meme's post he will explain it to you
and all this without an out of town development.maybe mr sinclair should take a closer look and realise that it is the high rents,the high parking charges and the general recession that is the problem.
Pedro
says...
12:57pm Fri 25 May 12
Stracqualursi
says...
1:24pm Fri 25 May 12
Pedro wrote:We're 2nd. Behind Westminster
The number of pubs and shops in York must be well over the national average. I am told we have more pubs per head of population than anywhere in the UK. What is that you can't buy here? Barge Poles? I buy outdoor clothes, but York always overprices everything - so I buy on the internet.
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
3:09pm Fri 25 May 12
meme
says...
3:11pm Fri 25 May 12
We have Go Outdoors and the new one at Clifton Moor that are the best value chains around for outdoors stuff including the net
Perhaps if we all supported our local businesses a little more by buying in the City or using local professionals we would all be better off
Remember the ''buy British'' campaign...
well why not a BUY INTO YORK campaign? Or will that be classed as being Yorkist by the PC brigade?
PKH
says...
3:35pm Fri 25 May 12
meme wrote:Most of the shops in York are not owned by CoYC, therefore CoYC has no influence whatsoever as to the rents charged.
The big issue is not retail where demand is reasonable from retailrs both in and out of town its offices that are crippled, particularly at Clifton Moor where rents are less than 50% of the rates actually charged by CoYC and falling.
Rents will not justify new build and demand is negligible so there is a latent disaster looming in the commercial sector. Lots should be pulled down and turned to other uses before it turns into a desert
PKH
says...
3:39pm Fri 25 May 12
Pedro
says...
3:41pm Fri 25 May 12
meme wrote:If we had to buy British we wouldn't be able to buy a trainer! I think there is only one company making them in this country and I doubt they could supply us all. I thought we were talking about central York - not the out-of-town? I tried to buy a light rain jacket in central York and failed. I am not paying £70 plus for a jacket that I can get for £13 on the internet! Having said that Aldi have sold coats, gloves and insulated jumpers at great prices.
York does not overprice outdoor clothes
We have Go Outdoors and the new one at Clifton Moor that are the best value chains around for outdoors stuff including the net
Perhaps if we all supported our local businesses a little more by buying in the City or using local professionals we would all be better off
Remember the ''buy British'' campaign...
well why not a BUY INTO YORK campaign? Or will that be classed as being Yorkist by the PC brigade?
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
8:46pm Fri 25 May 12
Pedro wrote:On wet days the Fell Rescue Teams are carrying hypothermic walkers off the hills dressed in £13 jackets.
meme wrote:If we had to buy British we wouldn't be able to buy a trainer! I think there is only one company making them in this country and I doubt they could supply us all. I thought we were talking about central York - not the out-of-town? I tried to buy a light rain jacket in central York and failed. I am not paying £70 plus for a jacket that I can get for £13 on the internet! Having said that Aldi have sold coats, gloves and insulated jumpers at great prices.
York does not overprice outdoor clothes
We have Go Outdoors and the new one at Clifton Moor that are the best value chains around for outdoors stuff including the net
Perhaps if we all supported our local businesses a little more by buying in the City or using local professionals we would all be better off
Remember the ''buy British'' campaign...
well why not a BUY INTO YORK campaign? Or will that be classed as being Yorkist by the PC brigade?
Magicman!
says...
3:24am Sun 27 May 12
roskoboskovic wrote:And the fact Leeds offers better premises with better transport links that go almost direct onto the M1 south or the A1 north.
and all this without an out of town development.maybe mr sinclair should take a closer look and realise that it is the high rents,the high parking charges and the general recession that is the problem.
roskoboskovic says...
8:07am Fri 25 May 12