Retail vacancy rate holds at 10 per cent

Thu, 20 Aug 2015

Businesses are still looking to invest in retail premises in Douglas despite fears that trading conditions are difficult.

In the town's regeneration area 10 per cent of units are currently empty - that figure has held steady for the last three months and is better than the UK average.

Concerns had been raised following the news The Body Shop is closing next month - it's blamed poor footfall and an increase in car parking charges and Treasury rates.

Town centre manager Michelle O'Malley says work goes on behind the scenes to fill the empty spaces: