Oxford city centre ‘in good shape’ despite empty shops

Jeweller Ian Middleton last month claimed Oxford had become a 'poorly-managed clone town trading on its past glories' and now a citizen survey has claimed there are 45 potential shop spaces empty in the centre.

However civic leaders have pointed out that footfall is up eight per cent following the opening of the £440m Westgate Centre in October.

Oxford City Council board member for culture and city centre Mary Clarkson said: “Whatever some naysayers might claim, the fact is that Oxford city centre is thriving. The numbers speak for themselves.

"June’s report by the Centre for Cities showed that Oxford has vastly more retailing than the average UK city centre – 48 per cent compared to 26 per cent.

"And our percentage of vacant units is much lower than the UK average – eight per cent compared to 12 per cent."

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Footfall - just how many people come to Oxford City Centre?

Mrs Clarkson said that according to council there are currently 27 vacant units across the city centre outside of the Westgate, with a further two recently taken up by new tenants and seven undergoing redevelopment.

The Westgate Centre, meanwhile, has reported 96 per cent of its units are let.

She went on: "Indeed, hoardings outside buildings are often a sign of significant activity; just last week Metro Bank became the latest new business to open – an excellent addition to Queen Street, not least because it provides a new range of banking services which will reach a wider cross-section of Oxford’s communities.

"Why has Metro Bank chosen Oxford? Perhaps because they noticed that retail spend in Oxford is 10 per cent higher than the average across the UK, and footfall across the city centre is up eight per cent over the past six months, with 17 million visits."

According to the council the number of empty units has changed little in the past three years – there were 35 vacant units in 2016 while a recent survey counted 35 vacant units, of which two are let and seven undergoing redevelopment.

However, the opening of the revamped Westgate Centre has changed the retail landscape dramatically, with more than 100 new shops and restaurants including flagship department store John Lewis.

Despite the council's reassurance, retired space scientist Keith Dancey, 69, from Wolvercote, is not so confident about traders enjoying a prosperous future.

Keith Dancey, who has carried out a survey of Oxford's empty shop units. Picture by Ed Nix.

Last month the widower conducted a snap survey covering city centre streets and said he found enough empty spaces to accommodate 45 new shops, although large units such as the former Next store in Cornmarket Street, still empty a year after it closed, were counted as two units.

He counted six empty units at the Covered Market, four in Cornmarket plus fashion store Moss Bros which is due to close, and four in Queen Street.

In High Street Mr Dancey said he spotted five empty units, along with four in Ship Street off Cornmarket, counting the former Russell & Bromley shoe shop as three units.

Mr Dancey said the opening of the revamped Westgate had 'undoubtedly' led to a number of shop closures in other parts of the city centre, as some stores chose to relocate to the new complex.

He added: "It's a perfect storm for traders in Oxford and I'm concerned there is more trouble on the way.

"Shops cannot compete with businesses which only operate online because they are having to pay high rents and business rates.

"And global monetary policy means interest rates are going up and businesses with high debts are finding it harder to service those debts, which is probably why some big companies like Toys R Us have not survived."

Cornmarket Street now has three souvenir shops: Oxford Connect, The Oxford Gift Shop and The Oxford Souvenir Shop.

Anthony Moutia, a member of staff at Moss Bros in the Westgate Centre, said he did not know what would happen to the Moss Bros unit in Cornmarket when it closes later this year.

He added: "I suppose it could become another souvenir shop – if you have multiple shops selling the same thing within a few months some will close down and that exacerbates the problem of empty units – the Westgate Centre has had a fantastic summer but Cornmarket is a real concern."

Last month the council agreed the final £1.3m investment to complete a long-term refurbishment of the Covered Market roof that will secure the structure for another 60 to 80 years.

In another positive sign, the market last week welcomed the latest in a small string of new shops in Baker Boys.

The refurbishment to the roof of the Grade II-listed market started in 2010 and has so far seen £500,000 spent by the council.

Closures at the market have seen the loss of long-serving businesses such as Haymans fishmongers, which relocated to Osney Mead trading estate, shoe shop Macsamillion and Hedges Butchers.