Preston is attracting new traders despite figures claiming its high street is one of the worst-performing in the country.
The Local Data Company published its latest Shop Vacancy Report yesterday claiming 24.7 per cent of shops on the city’s high street are sat empty.
The number is an increase of 3.7 per cent on 12 months earlier.
Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce which runs the Preston Business Improvement District (BID), said the research company assessed the city centre on the PR1 postcode.
She said: “These include areas outside the physical city centre which often have a higher vacancy rate.
“Occupancy rates in many city centres are stagnant, though it’s pleasing to see continual relocation, investment and renovation in the Preston city centre.
“We hope this long continues.”
Preston was the ninth-highest vacancy rate among large town and city centres with Stockport the worst hit with a 28.3 per cent of shops vacant.
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