Warning that North East high streets are becoming ‘unhealthy’
High streets around the region continue to suffer after cuts have seen high-profile retailers leave prominent sites. Vital community amenities such as banks, libraries, pharmacies, and public toilets are increasingly being replaced by vape shops and takeaway outlets.
New analysis warns the trend has accelerated over the last decade and is particularly stark in the North East, where towns and villages are struggling with health and economic inequalities.
In County Durham, the number of empty shops is at its highest ever rate. Vacancy rates recently increased in seven town centres to record an overall score of 18.3 per cent, above the national average of 14.
Many of the closures are fuelled by changing shopping habits and rising rents.
There were approximately 33 per cent more takeaway outlets in County Durham in 2024 compared to 2014, while the number of pharmacies, banks, and supermarkets have all decreased.
A new report titled ‘Ghost Towns: The Decline of the High Street and Health Inequalities’ urges the Government to step in to protect town centres and help regulate more unhealthy amenities.
Peterlee, Bishop Auckland, and Newton Aycliffe continue to have the highest percentage of vacant units within County Durham, while Ferryhill, Shildon, Consett, and Barnard Castle have also suffered heavily in the past year.
Campaigners have urged political leaders to create more ‘people-friendly’ spaces, with seating areas, public toilets and safe pedestrianised spaces to increase footfall.
However, North East-based retail consultant Graham Soult warned the declining state of local high streets should not be sensationalised.
“It is unfortunate that a report that argues for ‘decisive action to reverse decline’ on the high street risks having the exact opposite effect by perpetuating the one-sided and damaging ‘ghost town’ narrative that acts only to feed tabloid clickbait and drive visitors and investment away,” he said.
“Even despite all the challenges, we continue to see good-quality independent and national businesses opening and seeking space in the region’s town and city centres. We need people to discover and support those brilliant businesses, not more headlines that tell everyone how awful everywhere is.”
Mr Soult previously worked on the government’s High Streets Task Force – an initiative supporting local leaders to revitalise high streets and town centres – and said its work on helping build local partnerships and improving the physical experience of town centres should be celebrated.
Residents in Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor have been invited to take part in key decision-making to shape the future of their towns. Government funding delegated to individual Town Boards will be used to revive the high street, tackle anti-social behaviour, improve transport, and grow the economy.
Mr Soult added: “The trends that the report highlights are already widely known and recognised. That’s why local place leaders on the ground, in this region and beyond, are already working hard to tackle those issues and help facilitate the very change that the report’s authors advocate.
It is hoped that new powers, such as High Street Rental Auctions, set to be introduced in Darlington, will help redevelop derelict properties owned by private landlords. Yet, despite the concerns, Mr Soult said there are positive signs.
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He explained: “It is particularly disappointing that the report does not provide a platform to celebrate case studies of the good practice it is pushing for.
“From Durham’s recently opened LGBTQ-friendly café 3 of Cups – which has transformed an old William Hill bookmakers into a warm and welcoming space – to the wonderful Two Tales pop-up by Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books, which brings reading and creativity to the high street, our region is awash with examples of people bringing inclusivity, joy and pride to the places they care about.
“The question we need to be asking is how we can all work together to make even more of that good stuff happen.”