08 Feb 2023
The challenges faced by retailers have continued to mount since the onset of the pandemic, with soaring energy costs just the latest challenge to contend with.
But although that accounts for the churn of businesses at key locations like Christopher Place, The Maltings and St Peter’s Street, it doesn’t really explain why some city centre premises have remained empty and abandoned for years.
Not only do these “ghost shops” present a grim and unattractive appearance for visitors and residents alike, but they undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on neighbouring retailers.
In London Road, one of the main routes into the city, are two such eyesores – boarded-up and dilapidated – presenting an unwelcome vista which blights the surrounding area.
Along St Peter’s Street, the rundown site of the former Poundworld store has been caught up in planning hell for several years.
Developers Gatsby Retail Ltd won an appeal in June 2021 to demolish the building and replace it with three new retail units and 20 dwellings, but more than a year later nothing has changed.
The Moss Bros store also remains empty years after it became a victim of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, with a similar fate befalling Virgin Holidays in The Maltings, although the travel company have not moved out of their unused premises.
Although neighbouring pub Alban’s Well opened its doors in April 2021, the adjacent large retail unit which shares the former BHS site has never been occupied.
And what of the pub/restaurant announced
for former Mexican Benito’s Hut in Chequer Street by Home County Public Houses? The proposed Quiet Man pub is no longer going ahead, and plans by Mexican chain Chipotle to take the site seem to have fallen through.
The Argos store in Spencer Street has been empty for years, despite various schemes proposed to fill the site.
Meanwhile, in Victoria Street, a boarded-up shell is all that remains of the former Bucko’s sandwich shop and bakery, another unwanted eyesore on a major route into the city centre.
Freda Chaloner, chairman of St Albans Civic Society said: “London Road overall is depressingly shabby and does not reflect well on our lovely city. Empty premises do not help with that.”
St Albans district council offers support services to landlords as well as businesses which may be looking for premises in the district. This may be advice on planning issues, such as changing a building’s permitted use, or what business grants are available.
A spokesperson said: “High streets around the country are facing particularly challenging times at the moment because of the cost of living crisis as well as the growth of internet shopping. We are fortunate that St Albans district is still thriving and we are not as adversely impacted as some parts of the UK.
“The vacancy rate for shops in the district is 3.75%, well under the east of England average of 7.3% and the national average of 10.9%.
“While some businesses have closed, we are seeing many new ones emerge and
take root in the district.
“A new pub, for example, is soon to open in the city centre in a former Nationwide Building Society branch and another one, The Verulam, reopened just before Christmas.
“Over the last year or so we have seen Joe and the Juice, the Hub on Verulam, Gwendolen Lingerie and Swim, Artoplasia Greek Bakery, Sports Direct, Five Guys and Love Brownies all open new premises.”
Despite these developments, there are still many derelict or boarded-up commercial properties in the city centre which have remained empty for a number of years, with no signs of anything changing in the immediate future. What do you think SADC should do to fill the city’s empty shops? Email your comments to editor@super_sat
