One in five Stafford shops sitting empty

Statistics from the Local Data Company (LDC) reveal 17.2 per cent of retail units in the county town are vacant.

By comparison, in Cannock town centre, just 10 miles away, less than 11 per cent of shop units are vacant.

Stafford has seen the the first large retailers open up at its £100 million Riverside complex with more big name brands such as Primark on the way. But a number of the big names, including Topshop, M&S and JD Sports have all relocated from the town centre leaving units empty.

Councillor Christine Baron, said: "The number does surprise me as there seems to be a lot of empty shops taken up recently."

Across town the Guildhall is undergoing a half a million pound investment to help remain competitive. Although the town received a big blow in August when it was announced Morrisons had pulled out of from opening a supermarket at the Kingsmead development on North Walls.

Stafford Borough Council spokesmanWilliam Conaghan said: "Several retail outlets in Riverside have opened recently – and others will be opening soon – which we expect their data has not accounted for. There are also units in the town centre that are being converted into accommodation – we don't expect this has been taken in to account with their survey. The latest figures we have puts vacancy rate at around 12 per cent.

"We have significant regeneration taking place in Stafford however we are conscious that the town needs further investment and we will continue to ensure this will happen."

Earlier this year, Stafford Borough Council outlined a vision to revitalise north end of Stafford. Councillor Jonathon Price, who owns Stafford Computing in Eastgate Street, added: "At the end of the day everyone is guilty of buying on the internet and its a sign of the times." In Cannock, work on the new £115 million Mill Green Designer Outlet Village is set to start soon. Councillor Gordon Alcott said: "We're working hard and have always worked hard to promote our town centre and get these shops filled."

Natal Chapman, centre manager of Cannock Shopping Centre, said: "We have 39 units. Although five of those are unoccupied, I can confirm that three are currently under offer."

Walsall has the highest proportion of empty shops in the Black Country with 27.6 of shops without business. West Bromwich is almost as bad with 24.7 per cent, while Dudley has 23.1 per cent vacated units and Wolverhampton comes in at 21.8 per cent.