Empty shops filling up in city centre

HOPES FOR RETAIL REVIVAL AS BOARDED SHOPS VANISH

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

PLYMOUTH City Centre has 36 fewer empty shop premises than it did a year ago. A survey last year showed that there were 100 shop premises lying empty, now there are 64.

City Centre champion Cllr Mark Lowry (Lab, Southway) told Plymouth City Council cabinet members on Monday that 34 new businesses and shops were now operating.

Good progress was being made by the team responsible for attracting new businesses to the city and working with existing high street stores to fulfil their potential, he said. There had also been a "substantial increase in footfall".

Drake's Circus shopping mall and the Barcode dining and leisure complex were now almost fully let and book giant Waterstones, fashion store H&M and health and wellbeing firm Holland & Barrett had all had major refits "confirming their interest staying as premier retailers".