Recession Accentuates Impacts of Decentralizing of Retailing

The number of vacant shops in Rochdale is more than 10 times higher than it was a year ago.
In June 2008, 1.63 per cent of shops stood empty, compared to 17.43 per cent this June.
The figures were compiled by market analysis firm the Local Data Company, which studied shop vacancies in 675 town centres across England and Wales.
Of all the town centres studies, Rochdale had the 15th highest number of empty shops.
Since last June, the town centre has suffered a number of retail losses, with both high profile national chains and small independent businesses shutting up shop forever.
Several estate agents and the Toni and Guy hair salon in Yorkshire Street have also either relocated outside of Rochdale or folded.
Many of the closures are the result of national chains collapsing under the pressure of the recession, such as Principles, which had been trading in the Exchange Centre for more than 20 years before the firm slid into administration earlier this year.
In January, 53 people lost their jobs and a flagship Yorkshire Street store closed its doors forever with the national demise of Woolworths.