28/02/13…South Oxfordshire high streets still bucking national trend

SOUTH Oxfordshire?s market towns continue to perform better than most when it comes to the number of shops open along the main high streets, with more than 94 per cent of units currently occupied.

The annual South Oxfordshire retail vacancy survey took place in January across Thame, Henley and Wallingford, with all three towns well below the national average when it comes to the number of empty premises.

In Thame nine out of a total of 183 shops were empty (4.9 per cent), however just one of these is registered as having retail space (as opposed to being more suitable for office space for accountants or solicitors). While this is a positive, SODC who carried out the survey, say that it has raised ‘a slight concern’ about the lack of available retail space in the town centre, a key factor in attracting new business.

Thankfully the turnover of shops in the local area has meant that twelve new outlets have opened and independent traders continue to try out new initiatives to encourage greater footfall and repeat visits.

In Henley, 12 out of the 281 available units (or 4.2 per cent) in the town centre were empty, an improvement from a year ago when 17 properties were unoccupied, and significantly below the national vacancy average which lies around 13.5 per cent. The town has also seen 15 new businesses open in the past year.

In Wallingford the number of empty units was still below the national average, however 15 out of the town?s 140 premises lay empty in January (10.71 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent last year) with one or two larger units notably bare. Five shops have moved premises in the town, while three new retailers opened for business in the last year.

Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member of Economic Development, Property and Technical Services, said: ?By attracting a whole host of unique independent shops, South Oxfordshire?s market towns continue to do significantly better than many other areas around the country when it comes to making sure that we fill empty units.

?By working closely with local traders, partnerships, town councils and landlords on initiatives such as shop wrapping and pop-up shops we continue to provide the support that our towns and traders need to keep up our vibrant high streets.?

Any retailer, business person or entrepreneur who is interested in finding new premises in South Oxfordshire should contact: economic.development@southandvale.gov.uk