Increase in trade for shops bucking trend

A shopping centre in Walsall is enjoying a resurgence in trade after being able to attract new business as well as more visitors, bosses said today.

Managers at The Saddlers Centre believe it is bucking the trend for struggling high streets with a demand for empty units.

The Centre Cafe chain has recently created 10 jobs by opening in the Walsall town centre mall while Urban Diva has expanded into a bigger unit. Forty-three of the 50 units are occupied at the shopping centre.

There is also interest in vacant space as bosses have revealed a six per cent year-on-year increase in visitors.

It comes as some businesses on nearby Park Street have looked to move from the main high street and relocate to the Crown Wharf shopping centre.

River Island and Clinton Cards are both poised to relocate. But while the Clinton shop in Park Street is expected to close the Saddlers Centre branch will remain.

There are around 100 empty shops and units across the town centre as Walsall Council seeks to tackle the problem.

Business looking to move from Park Street has sparked fears more shops are migrating towards the Crown Wharf end of the town centre, which has also been boosted by the creation of a £65 million Tesco store.

However, figures revealed by managers at the independent Saddlers Centre show the weekly footfall in December was higher than 2010, building to more than 180,000 shoppers in the pre-Christmas week. While January's visitor numbers have also increased.

Centre manager Angela Henderson said: "We know high streets throughout the UK are facing tough times, but you have to face the challenges and deliver what your shoppers demand. We are doing just that with new names joining our line.

"We are investing in the centre to improve the experience for our shoppers, not just in attracting new retailers but also in improvements to our car park."