Newport was recently named as the worst city centre in the UK for empty shop units. Some have now hit back at the claims and have said things are moving forwards for the city
Newport city centre, which – according to a recent study – is among the city centres with the most empty units in the UK(Image: John Myers)
People in a city centre dubbed the UK’s worst for empty shops have hit back. Earlier this month Newport was named the city with the most empty units in the UK by think tank Centre for Cities.
It came in the same month BBC research showed 19 shops in the city centre had been closed down in the last nine months over illegal activity including the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco.
As shops continue to close around them some traders say the city centre is a shadow of what it once was, while business leaders in the city say Newport needs to move away from a focus on retail units if it wants to survive in an increasingly difficult period for the high street.
The Centre for Cities study which has previously named Newport city centre among the highest for empty units before this year looked at just over 60 towns and cities across the UK, focusing on the UK’s biggest areas.
Kevin Ward, manager of Newport Now BID (Business Improvement District), has accused various media platforms and social media bloggers of taking “great delight” in the headlines from the report.
He said: “Despite Newport city centre still having the highest number of empty retail units out of the 63 areas covered by the report, there is an improving picture in terms of occupancy rates and footfall compared to the last report in 2021.
“Four years ago, according to Centre for Cities, some 33% (or one in three) retail units were vacant in Newport city centre. In the latest report that has reduced to 19% (or one in five). How that has been reported by the media and others has been interesting.
“The improvement has barely been mentioned and it seems preferable to point out that 19% of shops in Newport city centre are empty rather than that 81% of them are occupied and trading.
“Footfall in Newport city centre has increased every year since 2021 and in every one of those years it has been higher than in 2019 – the last full pre-Covid year. The number of visitors coming to our city centre is bucking both the Welsh and UK trends, and 2025 is continuing the uptick.” Never miss a Newport story by subscribing to our newsletter here.
One trader said they were more concerned with drug issues than empty units in the city(Image: John Myers)
Mr Ward said, like many other cities and towns in the UK, Newport is suffering as a result of too much retail space. Newport city council’s placemaking plan suggests an aim to move towards a city centre focused on experience, hospitality and vibrancy – encouraged in part by getting more people to live in Newport rather than shop there.
Mr Ward added: “The high streets with the highest vacancy rates have an over-supply of retail space. That is undoubtedly the case in Newport.
“There is too much retail space in our city centre; we will never fill it all so something more radical needs to happen. That’s why we are pleased to see some of our proposals for the southern end of Commercial Street included in the recent placemaking plan published by Newport city council.
“Local and central government bodies and other public sector organisations should be headquartered in city centres. The business rates system needs to be reformed by the national government. The most successful high streets have a high spend on food and drink.”
Business leaders in Newport have said the city intends to move away from an overreliance on retail which is clearly not working(Image: John Myers)
The Labour council is taking steps to get people to want to linger in the city more. It is trying to do more to capitalise on the thriving music scene in the city centre, while it has recently been announced multiple busk stops have been installed in the city centre in a bid to encourage more people to perform on the streets.
In the market there is currently just one unit available for let and operator Loft Co is pleased with the way things are going. Loft Co owner Simon Baston said towns and city centres now need a strong hospitality and leisure scene and that’s imperative for Newport’s future.
He said: “City centres, especially the size of Newport, are seeing a seismic change in the way people live, work and play. Newport fully understands that the ‘old age’ of huge retail spend are now over and we have to look to become a destination and experience city alongside niche and independent retail units.
“Newport in particular has seen an increase in footfall in the last four years with significant private investment in areas such as Newport Market, Newport Arcade and Kingsway Shopping Centre as people buy into the local community and the identity of the public and what it is to be a Newportonian.
“The council are working extremely hard to promote the city at all levels. Most importantly there are more events in Newport than ever before. The leisure centre is on track to provide a state-of-the-art facility in the next 18 months.
“Nobody pretends there isn’t work to be done but there is a willingness to roll up the sleeves and with independent spirit and a can-do attitude that will make Newport a superb place to call home.”
Many shops have closed down in Newport city centre but some believe there could be a bright future (Image: John Myers)
Trader Annette Farmer said the city has a significant issue with illegal sales of tobacco and vapes as well as drugs. She claimed: “You can even buy cocaine, spice and weed in the shops.
“I think we should be more worried about this as to why Newport has got an empty shop problem and an even bigger drug problem. Maybe that’s the reason as to why our shops are closing down.
“It’s ridiculous and quite scary. I mean, would you want your child or teenager going into one of these shops and being turned into a possible addict?
“Trading standards are doing their bit, so are the council it seems, but then after closing the illegal shop another one reopens under a different name within the same location.”
Council leader Dimitri Batrouni said a number of retail units in the city centre needs to be reduced as the centre is “too big for present day demand”. He said: “The challenge is that city centre properties are mainly privately owned, sometimes by absent and neglectful landlords and it will require significant investment to achieve a reduction.
“However we are determined to transform our city centre to be fit for the 21st century. The placemaking plan sets out proposals to start that process. In due course we will be setting out further ambitious plans for our centre.”
