Quarter of Hull city centre stores empty, report reveals
CITY centre traders say more must be done to attract retailers to Hull after new figures revealed a quarter of stores are standing empty.
A national report on retail trends across the UK today showed little progress has been made to fill stores in Hull over the past 12 months.
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Empty shops in King Edward Street, Hull.
However, a number of other towns and cities across Yorkshire – and within easy travelling distance for shoppers – have been improving their offering.
Hull presently has 24.2 per cent of shops standing empty in the city centre – almost exactly the same figure as 12 months ago.
However, just nine per cent of stores are empty in York – less than an hour's drive away – where occupancy has risen 1.2 per cent.
Beverley has also seen an increase in new shops opening, with just 12 per cent now not filled, compared with 13.1 per cent a year ago.
Elsewhere, Leeds and Sheffield also have higher occupancy rates than Hull, while also increasing the number of new retailers.
Despite having Meadowhall on it's doorstep – Sheffield's percentage of empty shops fell by a 4.1 per cent.
The report, compiled by the Local Data Company, acts as a "retail radar" measuring the health of high streets across the country.
Author Matthew Hopkinson said it emphasised how cities like Hull were battling against increased internet spending, out-of-city developments, and "the dominance of supermarkets".
But trader Mark Duckett, who opened Caffe Mocha in Waltham Street in February, believes more can be done to reverse the situation.
He says lower rents and business rate relief would help fill the gaping holes in Hull.
He said: "If you walk around the city centre there are empty shops everywhere – some have been vacant for years. Unless something is done this will get worse.
"We need more entrepreneurs to open up in the centre, but the fact is they are not going to pay extortionate rents.
"If they were offered rate relief and reduced rents, even for an introductory period, then more people would look at opening a business here."
Ted Johnston, of Johnston's Butcher's in Carr Lane, agreed high rents and rates were discouraging retailers from the city centre.
But he also feels parking charges have driven shoppers away, while St Stephen's also took retailers from the traditional heart of the city.
He said: "Shopping should be a pleasure and shoppers should be welcomed into the city centre. If they find it difficult or expensive to park they won't come.
"Unfortunately, St Stephen's should never have happened either.
"People go on about how great it is, but now parts of the city centre are dead and the damage has been done.
"There needs to be some sort of incentives to encourage people to trade in the centre.
"In my opinion, one thing that won't help the situation is Hull's Business Improvement District (BID). Even if it does increase footfall, it doesn't increase spend and the levy businesses have to pay is just another disincentive."
Jim Harris, centre manager at St Stephen's, says city centre landlords must do more to attract retailers.
"There has been a lot of movement towards quality and new centres, however, if there is a lesson to be learnt that often goes down to individual landlords," he said.
"Lots of people come to us with ideas and where possible we try to negotiate deals, such as establishing turnover deals where we share the risk with potential retailers.
"Princes Quay has also worked very hard since the new owners took over to bring in new shops, which has been great.
"There are always deals to be done. At the end of the day it is as much down to landlords as it is to councils or organisations like BID."
Councillor Steve Bayes, portfolio holder for economic regeneration and employment, said a number of properties had stood empty because they were in areas earmarked for regeneration.
However, he said plenty was being done to improve the situation.
"Despite the economic downturn there are a lot of positive projects and events the council is working on with partners, businesses and developers including improvements to Paragon Square, to attract a dining quarter, as well as to Princes Dock Side, and businesses in the Fruit Market," he said.
"St Stephen's has brought new names to the city centre, increasing the shopping offer, and there will be work to develop Princes Quay."
No one from Hull BID was available for comment.
80 Comments
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by bazza_12
Tuesday, September 13 2011, 1:10PM
“lol Old gregg. There would be some irony, if i wasn't painting a picture and writing poetry as well as commenting on the HDM site, on a bog standard 5 year old Dell tower computer that takes a half hour to load up.. :) btw I don't own a TV or a games console..
I agree there is nothing wrong with living in the modern world, however it seems to me, that the "modern world" isn't working very well.. unless this article is saying different.. :)”
by GarethC2010
Tuesday, September 13 2011, 12:54PM
“I used to have a reasonable sized shop and nearly died of shock when I received my first 'business rates' bill. £6000 !!!!!! when I called the council to establish what I was actually receiving for my money the very succinct answer was 'nothing sir it's just a tax' I didn't even get my bins emptied. That was extra. It's not difficult to see why closing, making all the staff redundant was the obvious choice. It is impossible to compete with on-line business especially when customers use your shop to view products, waste your staff's time only to decide the product they like and go home to buy it online. Hull City Council need to come up with something seriously innovative with regards to the cost of occupying empty retail property otherwise this vacant percentage will continue to increase at a very alarming rate.”
by Old_Gregg
Tuesday, September 13 2011, 12:21PM
“bazza_12 - Isn't there a hint of irony as you bleat on about commercialism and everyone picking up a pen and writing a poem or painting a landscape when you're sat in front of your Comet laptop posting on the HDM website??
I've no problem with your sentiments but there's also nothing wrong with wanting to live the modern life if that's what people want.
It is possible to appreciate a good book and be envronmentally responsible whilst also enjoying some of the trappings of modern day life.
Vive le Playstation!”
by TIGERPETER
Tuesday, September 13 2011, 11:53AM
“I was in Hull for an hour yesterday. I rarely shop there, prefering York or Beverley. I worked in Hull during the 60s and 70s. It was vibrant and busy. Not any more. It's scruffy and in many places dirty. It's a great shame, because Queen's Gardens is still an attraction and what's left of Hull's architecture and culture is worth seeing. The problem is money and jobs. Hull has lacked political leadership for 40 years. We have three Labour MPs. Over the years Hull's MPs have had major positions in Government. Yet they have done nothing for this City. Wind farm jobs won't go to Hull people of that I am certain.”
by Cbayley
Tuesday, September 13 2011, 11:37AM
“A quater of the people in hull cannot afford to shop in these quarter of closed shops anyway.”
by buornfree
Monday, September 12 2011, 6:42AM
“gevalia how rite you are the rents are far to hi but like others have said you don't want to boy furnishes every day last time I was down whitfegate I got a sany from subway and it cot a fortune I will never go in that shop again”
by bazza_12
Sunday, September 11 2011, 6:01PM
“I know it sounds obvious.. but if we all stopped trying to find happiness in money, new sofas, mobile, fridge, computer, tv, dvd, etc. and actually tried to expand our minds, connect with our inner beings, realise that we are all united on this earth to help each other, live as one, not to kill one another or other animals.. wouldn't we all reep the riches we need individually?
If these shops are empty, why not open them up FREELY to artists until such time as businesses wants to take them on? They are sat empty anyway..
I would love to have a city centre space to show my art work! but there is no way I can currently afford to rent a space to exhibit and with space so tight in existing galleries, (because of money!) my work isn't able to be seen. There must be a lot of creative people in Hull, writers, painters, sculptures, who could easily fill empty shops with their work, and create a vibrant temporary alternative arts scene in Hull.
If you own a rental unit in the city and it's currently empty and has been empty for months, then get in touch..”
by Lottonews
Sunday, September 11 2011, 5:08PM
“Good comment bazza 12 -have to agree with anyone who ends with "turn off Jeremy Kyle".”
by GCtheDJ
Sunday, September 11 2011, 3:20PM
“Couldn't we turn Whitefriargate into a giant daily car-boot sale? All those solicitors/lawyers/barristers/judges/white collar workers would love it! They probably have no idea of the fun you can have at one. Perfect for the lunch-hour period. Okay I admit it, I'm joking! But I honestly can't think of any other alternatives.”
by GCtheDJ
Sunday, September 11 2011, 3:02PM
“I'd like a little shop in the town centre. I've got very little disposable income but I'd give one a try if I could have one on a month to month basis. I'd want to pay no more than £60 per week for a very small shop (about 10 foot square). If any prospective landlords can sort me one out I'd be delighted. It would surely be better than it remaining empty for another year. Perhaps HCC could do a special rates incentive scheme for new businesses too. Wonderful! I'll watch this space.”