Steady declines continue for Brighton city centre retail vacancies
The Brighton city centre vacancy rate has fallen slightly since in the last quarter.
Currently, 5.93% of premises are empty in the wider in city centre, this marks a fall from 6.49% in March. The BID, Brighton’s Business Improvement District rate has also fallen slightly from 6.87% to 6.29%.
The national average is currently just over 12%, so it’s great to see Brighton substantially bucking that national trend. Breaking down the figures, the BID area is currently 52% comparison goods shops (clothes, homewares etc).
The second biggest sector is leisure services at 32% of the total stock (pubs, bars, restaurants and entertainment). Of all the businesses overall, the BID are currently has an independent retail sector of 65% compared to a 35% of national chains.
Compared to the wider city centre, of which 68% are independent. Nationally, independent retail accounts for 65% of all retail in the UK.
City centre retail vacancy rates are compiled quarterly by Brilliant Brighton, the City's Business Improvement District.