High St empty stores mystery

Shoppers may have noticed the two shops, the former Foxhole and Our Price stores, have been empty for some months.

City centre manager Georgia Smith said that trade in Worcester is healthy and units that become empty are generally filled quickly.

Although she was not certain when the shops, half-way up the shopping strip, will be filled, she said a number of things could be happening behind the scenes.

She said: "I know that the unit that used to be the clothing store Foxhole has had a number of owners over the past few months.

"I don't know if anything is due to open soon but talks and plans are bound to be taking place behind the scenes.

"The black and white building, which was rented for a temporary period over Christmas, is undergoing a lot of work but again I am not sure what exactly."

There is also an empty unit in Broad Street and another just up the High Street is currently being transformed into the shoe shop Office.

Jim Pithouse, senior planner at Worcester City Council, said changes to shopping precincts are constant and, although nationally retail has been taking blows because the increase of internet shopping, there is no downturn of trading in the city.

He said: "It is a normal situation to have a number of shops that are empty at the same time.

"It just so happens that these premises are where they are, sometimes they are less obvious.

"We constantly monitor the area for any changes to make sure the health and vitality of the city is maintained." Mr Pithouse said that he was unaware of any businesses opening in the empty units because they do not need a planning application to do so.

Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire said empty shops are often a transitional period between one business moving out and another moving in and nothing to worry about.

Chris Harvey, head of policy, said: "Empty shops can become prominent when it is for a long period but when that happens there are often negotiations taking place."