Freeze business rates to lower risk to retail, urges BRC

The Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson OBE, has urged the Government to consider freezing business rates and reform what she describes as a “broken” transitional relief system.

Speaking as part of a third quarter assessment of vacancy rates, Dickinson pointed to a continuing north-south disparity in the vacancy rate of premises allocated for retailers.

In the third quarter of 2022 the overall GB vacancy rate did however drop to 13.9%, a 0.1 percentage point improvement on Q2 and 0.6 percentage points better than the same time last year. The marginal decline ensured a fourth consecutive quarter of the vacancy rate declining.

Retail park vacancies registered the lowest of the vacancy rates at 9.7% in Q3, improving 0.5 percentage points. On the High Street the vacancy rate is higher at 13.9%, while vacancies in shopping centres were the highest at 18.8%.

Helen Dickinson said: “The overall shop vacancy rate improved for the fourth consecutive quarter; however, vacancies remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Some locations are benefitting from a pickup in tourism and a gradual return to offices, but levels of footfall are still below those of 2019. This gave some businesses the confidence to start investing, opening new stores around the country, especially in Retail Parks. But the North-South divide is again laid bare in these figures. While the North has seen some of the biggest improvements in openings over the last year, they still have some of the highest vacancy rates in the country, with one in five shops closed in the North East.

“The costs of operating in many towns and cities remains high and demand will be tested by the fragile economy and falling consumer confidence in the lead up to Christmas. Higher costs are already pushing up prices and the industry faces a government imposed extra £800m business rates bill from April 2023. This will force many retailers to make tough decisions about whether to invest in new stores or close existing ones. Government should freeze business rates and reform the broken transitional relief system. This will support investment in communities across the country and help keep prices low for consumers.”

The Office for National statistics has recently presented data that suggests the impact of Covid and the association restrictions had a worse impact than initially thought on both retail and transportation.

Lucy Stainton, Commercial Director at the Local Data Company, added: “Our latest analysis of the physical retail and leisure market across GB as a whole shows a sustained level of recovery at a time when further economic headwinds have been well-documented. With a decrease in store closures compared to the same time last year, in parallel with an increase in openings, vacancy rates have continued to decline as we look to the end of 2022.

“The pandemic proved the final straw for a number of ailing retailers. The CVA and insolvency activity which typified the most challenged end of the market in the COVID years caused a significant spike in empty units, which are now slowly being reoccupied.

“Independent businesses in particular have continued to flourish as consumers remain loyal to their local high streets. However, we can’t ignore oncoming economic pressures as consumers face a winter of increased caution and reduced disposable income. Just as the market has started to find its feet, we are now about to face a new round of tests— but perhaps the lessons learned during the pandemic will help chains and independents to weather the coming storm. The latest GB figures are encouraging but should still be viewed with real caution, and we would predict that this increase in occupancy could slow as retail and hospitality businesses grapple with a tough winter.”