Local Data Company reveals average retail vacancy has reached 12%, with the North feeling the pinch worst in England and Wales.
Figures from The Local Data Company's (LDC) Mid-Year Report 2009 revealed that 11,908 independents stores closed this year, making up 7.3% of the total.

The multiples have also been affected, with 6,866 closures in the past 12 months. This ties in with the significant rise in retail vacancy reported by the LDC.

Town centre vacancy rates in England and Wales have risen to 12% - just over 4% higher than in June 2008, and, according to the LDC, "are showing no signs of abating".

The notable increase in retail vacancy is also said to be attributable to a 50% drop in store openings over the last 18 months.

The North of England has been the hardest hit region, with retail vacancy doubling since mid-2008. Worst affected in the region was Gateshead with a vacancy rate of 24.8%, followed by Blackpool with 21.8% and Liverpool at 21%.

The Midlands performed slightly worse than the LDC's 12% national average, while the South and East were in keeping with the figure and the West and Wales performed better than average. Central London had a vacancy rate of 13%. Margate was the worst hit town in the UK with 25%.

Some areas experienced a significant increase in their churn rate - where shops open up and close down under different names. The highest churn rate was found in Wakefield in West Yorkshire at 716% in just 6 months - double the figure of the second worst town, Wolverhampton, with 387%. Newcastle-Upo-Tyne saw a churn rate of just 3%.

The LDC also revealed that, six months after the demise of Woolworths, 70% of its 800-plus stores are still sitting empty. The North East experienced the worst figures, with 90% of the retail chain's former sites still empty. Greater London fared best with more than 50% of ex-Woolies stores already acquired.

Takers of the 30% of Woolworths sites that have been acquired include supermarket chains, discount stores, such as Home Bargains and Poundland, and even Carpet Right whose snapped up an undisclosed number of sites that reaches double figures.

Meanwhile, Europe's biggest urban shopping centre Westfield has agreed to a reduction in service charges following a dispute with tenants. The London-based centre has charged £14 per sq ft - around 50% more than most other UK shopping centres, but has now admitted that there will be an adjustment in price, claiming that the charge was always going to be reviewed.

A report by The Times found that almost 10% of units were vacant in the luxury village area of the shopping centre, suggesting Westfield is also struggling in the economic downturn.