According to the Local Data Company's research 1 in 9 of the UK's shops are now empty. This has been attributed to the impact of changing shopping habits and tighter economic conditions. With this trend predicted to continue it can only mean further high street insolvencies putting further strain on landlords and pushing them towards converting retail units into offices and residential lets.
The analysis backs up the theory that Britain now has too many retail units and is likely to enter an era when our high streets shrink. "However, we have now reached a turning point and the number of shops in the UK is falling with store rationalisation programmes and administrations taking effect. "The 2018 vacancy data reveals how towns and cities are seeing the impact of an oversupply of retail stores, after years of expansion across high streets, shopping centres and retail parks.
https://news.sky.com/story/high-streets-shrinking-as-shop-closures-increase-11773514
