I have just come back from a meeting of Town Centre Management, the independent group which promotes Bury St Edmunds. You can read more on their website. I was delighted to hear the latest monitoring report of empty shops, which are often cited as a problem by those whose glasses are half empty rather than half full. In fact the opposite is true, and here are the details to prove it.
On the 17th August 2007 there were 412 shop premises in Bury, of which 14 were empty – equating to less than 4% vacant shops. The national average is much higher, currently standing at 13%, with a number of major towns having up to 25% vacant shops. The commercial agents in Bury all said that virtually as soon as a shop becomes available then it is taken: properties do not stay on the market very long. Within Abbeygate Ward the details are as follows.
There are 51 shops in Abbeygate Street, 2 of which are empty. The shop that used to be Star Chamber (31 Abbeygate Street) has now been let and will be opening shortly. The shop that used to be FotoDen (12 Abbeygate Street) and the shop that is boarded up (46-46a Abbeygate Street) are vacant. The agent for both is Merrifields.
There are 21 shops in Churchgate Street, 1 of which is empty (formerly Vinch Finch).
There are 14 shops in Langton Place, none empty
There are 28 shops in Hatter Street, 2 of which are empty. The shop that was Bury Book Shop (28a Hatter Street) is vacant, and the agent is George Hazell. The shop that was La Femme (22a Hatter Street) is vacant and the agent is Matthew Fullerton.
There are 14 shops in Guildhall Street, with none empty
There are 14 shops in Whiting Street, with none empty
There are 57 shops in the Buttermarket, with none empty. The shop that used to be MusicZone has now been let.
There are 31 shops in Cornhill, 2 of which are empty. The building that was the Woolwich Building Society (Market Cross) is vacant, and the agent is Donaldsons. The shop which was Moben Bathrooms (61 Cornhill) is vacant, and the agent is Marshall Buck.
There are 10 shops in Central Walk, Woolhall Street, and Kings Road, 2 of which are empty. 1-2 Woolhall Street is possibly under offer depending on planning permission, the agent being George Hazell. The other empty shop was Jennifers Florists in Central Walk, and there is no agents sign.
There are 26 shops in Angel Lane, Angel Hill, Looms Lane, 1 of which is empty. This used to the Richard Green estate agents (24B Angel Hill). The agent is Merrifields.
On the 17th August 2007 there were 412 shop premises in Bury, of which 14 were empty – equating to less than 4% vacant shops. The national average is much higher, currently standing at 13%, with a number of major towns having up to 25% vacant shops. The commercial agents in Bury all said that virtually as soon as a shop becomes available then it is taken: properties do not stay on the market very long. Within Abbeygate Ward the details are as follows.
There are 51 shops in Abbeygate Street, 2 of which are empty. The shop that used to be Star Chamber (31 Abbeygate Street) has now been let and will be opening shortly. The shop that used to be FotoDen (12 Abbeygate Street) and the shop that is boarded up (46-46a Abbeygate Street) are vacant. The agent for both is Merrifields.
There are 21 shops in Churchgate Street, 1 of which is empty (formerly Vinch Finch).
There are 14 shops in Langton Place, none empty
There are 28 shops in Hatter Street, 2 of which are empty. The shop that was Bury Book Shop (28a Hatter Street) is vacant, and the agent is George Hazell. The shop that was La Femme (22a Hatter Street) is vacant and the agent is Matthew Fullerton.
There are 14 shops in Guildhall Street, with none empty
There are 14 shops in Whiting Street, with none empty
There are 57 shops in the Buttermarket, with none empty. The shop that used to be MusicZone has now been let.
There are 31 shops in Cornhill, 2 of which are empty. The building that was the Woolwich Building Society (Market Cross) is vacant, and the agent is Donaldsons. The shop which was Moben Bathrooms (61 Cornhill) is vacant, and the agent is Marshall Buck.
There are 10 shops in Central Walk, Woolhall Street, and Kings Road, 2 of which are empty. 1-2 Woolhall Street is possibly under offer depending on planning permission, the agent being George Hazell. The other empty shop was Jennifers Florists in Central Walk, and there is no agents sign.
There are 26 shops in Angel Lane, Angel Hill, Looms Lane, 1 of which is empty. This used to the Richard Green estate agents (24B Angel Hill). The agent is Merrifields.
10 comments:
And your point is.....?
Paul, some useful information, thanks.
What is interesting is that of the empty shops, there appears to be a greater percentage in the general HCZ area as opposed to the locality of the new ARS shopping centre.
(Yes, I'm not a supporter of the ARC centre, mostly because I am concerned that businesses in the old business district of the town centre will lose out. So, according to recent SEBC decisions, I suppose I am biased and should not be commenting....)
Interestingly also, there is another empty "shop" in Hatter Street - next to the cinema, which isn't mentioned in the list.
It is disappointing that there are a number of empty shops on the main drag up Abbeygate St into the town centre in what is, I imagine, our busiest time of the year for tourists. It is particularly disappointing that the Star Chamber premises which are so prominent on Angel Hill are empty at this time of year (but I appreciate there's nothing the Council etc can do about that!).
Again though Paul, some really interesting figures which I very much doubt you would have found it possible to publish had it not been for the power of blogging/the internet.
Glad you found it useful Headless. You have also saved me responding to David's point.
Paul
I think davids point maybe that figures can be used to prove any point. In this case it has proved nothing. and maybe cast doubt on your calculator.
I counted 209 premises listed in your blog. 10 of which were empty thats 5%
If you include 46/46a as two shops ( which i beleive they could have been) and you add star chamber you have 12 or 13. thats 6%
all of a sudden
well good try and good information. the bottom line is thats still to many empty shops
Of course you may tell me I am incorrect on this occation ?
Sorry Colin. I only included the Abbeygate ward shops, and since more of the empty shops are there it skewed the results.
Even so, 6% (although not the reality) is a vast improvement on the national averages.
Is your glass half empty or full? Do you want to talk Bury up or down?
oh you guys!!!
Sorry if we exasperate you PM, but this is the more serious of my blogs - at least I try to keep it that way!
Paul like all commentators in the public arena, the glass is both half full and half empty. One should be able to discuss and argue from both perspectives. Using which ever may be appropriate to counter the balance. Bury is a great town, and one we are lucky to live within its walls. But that should not stop us ensuring those who chose to request our votes from maintaining that improvement, and if that means ensuring the level of liberalism and complacacency does not creep in so be it.
This certainly puts things into perspective, but my main concern has always been what will happen when many of the main shops in Bury relocate to the new development.
If we cannot fill empty premises in prime locations now, how can we hope to do it when crowd pulling shops such as Next, Waterstones and Monsoon move out of the centre, taking their mass of customers with them?
Colin - you are right to guard against complacency. If I appear not to, it is because I am having to be on the defensive so much. Thank you for pulling me up!
a.n.other - I know your concern is shared by others, but I think that the survey shows we CAN fill empty premises better than other towns. The new Cattle Market should attract more shoppers to the town, and the snowballing effect should pay dividends.
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