High-street retail moves into out-of-town parks – Trevor Wood

The Guardian reports today on the latest research from retail consultancy Trevor Wood Associates, which shows that high-street retailers and supermarkets are moving into the units in out-of-town shopping parks that have been left empty by the collapse of retailers such as Focus DIY.

The arrival of retailers such as Next, M&S and Tesco at more out-of-town shopping parks helped to drive the vacancy rate at such centres to 9.2% by the end of 2010, compared with 11.6% in 2009, the report says. This was the lowest figure since the 8.3% seen before the economic downturn hit, at the end of 2007. Meanwhile the average high-street vacancy rate is 15%, according to Local Data Company figures, the paper points out.

Trevor Wood told the newspaper that high streets needed “slight invigorating” such as improved parking (and free spaces) and the right mix of stores in order to turn things around, and he also sees potential in “hybrid” developments – retail areas on the edge of town centres. The firm’s Definitive Guide to Retail and Leisure Parks is to be published this week.