Concern over business rates has come to the fore again as footfall fell 0.6% in July.
Rates are broadly seen as a significant inhibiting factor stopping retailers from investing in high streets and malls.
The current rating system and level of rates have been widely condemned by businesses and retailers but the government still refuses to review until the next revaluation in 2017. Meanwhile the sheer number (35%) and cost (estimated to be £4.2bn) of appeals underpins how unfit and unfair the current system is and the damaging effect it is having on the high street.
Against this background it was announced this week that shop vacancy rates in July were their lowest since monitoring began in 2011. However this is largely attributed to landlords allowing short-term lets and pop up shops during the summer peak season – as well as Christmas. And despite the improving vacancy rates one in 10 shops remain vacant because retailers lack confidence to invest.
Meanwhile high street footfall fell 0.5% on average each month last quarter, with London seeing the greatest fall in footfall at 1.8% since July 2013. Boris Johnson recognises the importance and difficulties of the High Street and launched ‘Action for High Streets’, intended to encourage people to support their local high street, of which there are 600 in London providing more than 50% of London’s jobs.
Fortunately Dymond’s portfolio of end users includes leading national retailers who are in a position to invest in new and existing stores, including shopfittings and retail display fixings, so for us it is proving to be a busy summer as usual. And hopefully strategies like ‘Action for High Streets’ may result in more capital investment and shopfittings for the independent retailers as well.