Wandsworth town centre has one of the highest number of empty shops for its size in the country according to a new report. 

Earlier this month the Local Data Company (LDC), a retail business research database, announced that 29.1 per cent, almost one in three shops, there is now empty, ranking it fifth from bottom in the league table of small shopping centres for vacancies, alongside the likes of Margate.

The LDC’s survey included shops from the bottom of East Hill, along Wandsworth High Street up until Santos Road, near Wandsworth Museum – as well as Southside shopping centre on Garratt Lane.

Many nearby town centres have much higher occupancy rates according to the report, with nearby Raynes Park having just 1.8 per cent vacancies. 

But the council’s business spokesman Councillor James Cousins rubbished LDC’s statistics describing them as “fatally flawed” and “misleading”, and insisted that the area is undergoing a “successful period of growth”.

He said: “Anyone who has visited Wandsworth Town will understand just how badly they have got this wrong.

“The council and the local business community have worked extremely hard to successfully regenerate Wandsworth Town and transform it into one of south London’s most popular retail venues.

“It’s incredibly frustrating to see that work undermined by a misleading and incomplete survey, which could deter new  investors.”

The LDC’s own figures show there has been a 2.4 per cent decrease in the number of vacancies in area over the last 12 months. 

But during a visit to the town centre on Tuesday, the empty shops on the High Street were only too apparent.

In contrast the shopping centre, containing Gap, HMV and Waitrose, has just six empty units out of 75.

Shop keepers on the High Street were vocal about a range of issues that they believe are blighting their businesses including, traffic, parking, the lack of train and Tube links, and a lack of support from the council. 

Waz Merchant, of Fone Junction, said: “We were kicked out of Southside many years ago because we couldn’t afford the rent. It’s been tough here, there is no passing trade and nowhere for people to park up and jump in.

“The only visit I have had from the council was from the bin men asking for more money to take away our rubbish.” 

Kamlesh Rathud, owner of Pearl Dry Cleaners, said: “I have been here for 15 years. There have always been a lot of empty shops.

"Traffic is high, it is like a motorway out there, there is nowhere to park and the rent is unbelievable.

“I have never met a town centre manager so I would say we have had no help from the council at all.”

Rajendran Nithiyananthan, who owns the Wandsworth News newsagents, said: "The only shop I have seen do well recently is Tesco Express. But that has taken away a lot of our business.

"We would have to stay open until 3am to compete. I have a family with two children so it is a critical situation. This is all I have done so I don't know what other job I could do.

"What is the point of running a business for 20 years and then going out of business?"

The LDC has cited the growing popularity of online shopping and low levels of consumer spending due to the current economic difficulties for decimating some retail centres.

Neil Churchill, centre manager at Southside said: “Southside is a thriving retail destination for Wandsworth which continues to attract new names.

"We are currently finishing off a redevelopment of the food court on the upper concourse to allow Ed’s Easy Diner and Prezzo to open very soon, and are developing the exterior of the scheme to create new units for Wagamama, Rossopomodoro and Cattle Grid amongst others.

"As we progress our strategy for the Arndale Walk area of Southside, with planning consent secured earlier this year, we have chosen not to renew or re-let units in this area in readiness for a major multi-million pound investment to commence."

Matthew Hopkinson, LDC's director, said: “This report clearly shows the key economic and structural issues, which are impacting town centres up and down the country.”

For more information on Wandsworth Town visit wandsworth.gov.uk/towncentres.

LDC's  top five most "vacant" small shopping centres

Town                 Vacancy Rate (per cent)         12 Month Change


Margate                  36.5                                                0.4
Fratton                    31.0                                              10.1
Cheetham               30.1                                               1.8
Brierley Hill              29.6                                               7.5
Wandsworth           29.1                                              -2.4