An average of one in every eight shops is now vacant, according to a new survey.
The figures, compiled by retail research firm the Local Data Company, demonstrate the scale of the damage wrought by the recession. The firm found that 12.4 per cent of all British shops were empty at the end of December 2009.
But the picture is much worse in some parts of the country. Margate, for example, currently has a town centre vacancy rate of 27 per cent. Vacancies across the country were at just 5 per cent at the beginning of 2009.
The survey demonstrates the scale of the damage wrought by the recession. But, while the picture remains bleak for many, the rate of increase in vacancies has slowed dramatically. The first two quarters of 2009 saw a rise from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, while the total rise over the second six months of the year was just 2.4 per cent.
But many analysts expect to see vacancies remaining at high levels for some time yet - perhaps for good. Despite the apparent beginning of an economic recovery, some commentators have suggested that the growth of online retail will mean fewer consumers see the need to do their shopping on the High Street.
This would have a dramatic effect on the nature of many of Britain's town centres.
