One in ten Woolworths stores empty
Almost 10 per cent of former Woolworths stores remain vacant in the South West, according to a new study.
Three years after the high-street chain collapsed, 9.9 per cent of the region's stores lie empty.
Across the UK, an average of one in eight remains unoccupied.
The research by the Local Data Company found that Poundland and Iceland have together taken up almost one in seven of those which are now occupied.
The statistics reveal that 13 per cent of Woolworths are now vacant, three years after the retailer went under. However, the figures differ in each region, with only 5 per cent of stores vacant in Yorkshire and the Humber compared with 38 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Iceland and Poundland now occupy 7 per cent each of the former stores with 99p Stores taking up 6 per cent of the properties. They are followed by B&M Bargains (5 per cent), Tesco Express (3 per cent), Original Factory Shop (3 per cent) and Poundstretcher (3 per cent).
Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company, said: "It is encouraging to see 87 per cent of the old Woolworths shops now occupied.
"It reflects the fact that Woolworths was once the anchor store in many centres and that the current market has enabled greater opportunity for retailers to relocate to more prime locations due to high shop vacancy rates.
"The significant rise in the number of demolished properties is noteworthy and may be connected to empty rates relief being abolished and the state of the market in these tertiary locations with little or no retail demand."
