Town centre shop unit vacancy rates across the UK are currently running at between 10 to 12 per cent. Some towns are even worse. There’s no denying that Wrexham's town centre is looking very hollow at present. In particular, after 15 years, Henblas Square is bare, with the closure of the only significant remaining unit, British Home Stores. There are other prominent gaps within the town centre.
So, how's Rhuthun/Ruthin doing? Research organisation Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog Analytics Ltd has analysed the latest statistics and can report a vacancy rate of 9.7 per cent. This is just over one per cent better than the 11 per cent registered at the same time last year.
Things get better, too, if you consider that three units are about to come back into use. One is the Corporation and the other two are shops: one will sell hearing products (the former Maia, next to Boot's the Chemist) and the other bathrooms (former ICT shop and, if you go back far enough, Celff a Chrefft). If you subtract these from the equation, the modified vacancy rate is seven per cent.
Next, remove the units which are now so marginal that they are unlikely ever to return to retail and the recalculated vacancy rate is a little under five per cent.
Which are the town centre vacant properties? Two are the former antique dealer and adjacent hairdresser at The Picture House. One of these is large (though with a small façade) and the other reasonably sized (for Rhuthun). The former Mexican on Wynnstay Road is, let's face it, too small for any realistic use. The two adjacent empty shops on Clwyd Street have been without a tenant for so long that, again, there can be little realistic prospect of their ever coming back into use.
Greenlands closed in Rhuthin last month and centralised in the former Swinton Insurance office in Dinbych. It leaves a small office on Well Street that needs a specialist use. Greenlands came to Rhuthun in 2009 as part of ambitious plans to expand.
And, that's it, really. The former Vale Insurance will remain as residential. Chris Birchall's studio appears closed (he always said he was shutting) but this is perceived to be well out of the way. Similarly, the two adjacent units in Upper Clwyd Street once occupied by a jeweller & John the Barbers (& latterly both J's) plus the odd format at closed Andrew's Crafts (formerly Steptoe's) are not well located and too small—and therefore realistically not usable. With such a paucity of shop square footage currently available, it's little wonder long term vacancies such as the former Maia are at last attractive.
If you take out all units under refurbishment or those which are unlikely ever to return to commercial use, the amended vacancy rate in Rhuthun is about two per cent.
Things get better, too, if you consider that three units are about to come back into use. One is the Corporation and the other two are shops: one will sell hearing products (the former Maia, next to Boot's the Chemist) and the other bathrooms (former ICT shop and, if you go back far enough, Celff a Chrefft). If you subtract these from the equation, the modified vacancy rate is seven per cent.
Next, remove the units which are now so marginal that they are unlikely ever to return to retail and the recalculated vacancy rate is a little under five per cent.
Which are the town centre vacant properties? Two are the former antique dealer and adjacent hairdresser at The Picture House. One of these is large (though with a small façade) and the other reasonably sized (for Rhuthun). The former Mexican on Wynnstay Road is, let's face it, too small for any realistic use. The two adjacent empty shops on Clwyd Street have been without a tenant for so long that, again, there can be little realistic prospect of their ever coming back into use.
Greenlands closed in Rhuthin last month and centralised in the former Swinton Insurance office in Dinbych. It leaves a small office on Well Street that needs a specialist use. Greenlands came to Rhuthun in 2009 as part of ambitious plans to expand.
And, that's it, really. The former Vale Insurance will remain as residential. Chris Birchall's studio appears closed (he always said he was shutting) but this is perceived to be well out of the way. Similarly, the two adjacent units in Upper Clwyd Street once occupied by a jeweller & John the Barbers (& latterly both J's) plus the odd format at closed Andrew's Crafts (formerly Steptoe's) are not well located and too small—and therefore realistically not usable. With such a paucity of shop square footage currently available, it's little wonder long term vacancies such as the former Maia are at last attractive.
If you take out all units under refurbishment or those which are unlikely ever to return to commercial use, the amended vacancy rate in Rhuthun is about two per cent.
Tags:
Shops