Huge differences in shop rents across city centre
RENTING A shop in one of part of York city centre is three times more expensive per square foot than on a nearby street, according to council officers who say landlords will need to “adjust their expectations”.
In a report prepared for a City of York Council meeting, officers highlighted a “very noticeable cluster of vacancies in Coney Street” but said the city still has the second lowest shop vacancy rate of any UK city.
They said a number of companies have shown an interest in moving to Coney Street and they expect to see stores opening in some of the vacant units soon.
The trend emerged on the day Communities Secretary James Brokenshire revealed that there are more than 27,000 properties lying vacant in England’s town centres, as he set out plans to help declining high streets.
He launched the Government’s Open Doors project to link landlords with vacant retail units, and also involve community groups in offering services to the young and old in their area.
It is hoped that this will form part of a plan to tackle social problems linked to declining high streets.
Separately, Scarborough Borough Council yesterday announced that it is seeking ideas from businesses and the public about what Scarborough town centre should offer in the future and how it can improve as a destination for leisure, retail and other goods and services.
In York, Keith Aspden, the city council’s executive member for economic development and community engagement, said there were clusters of vacant premises in the city but added: “There’s a lot to be really, really pleased about, particularly when considering the national context.”
Simon Brereton, head of economic growth at City of York Council, said: “Coney Street is by far the most expensive part of York.
“The rents in Coney Street are something like three times the rents per square foot that they are in Goodramgate.”