http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11053818
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| Quote: More than 300 former Woolworths stores are still empty a year and a half after the chain collapsed. The Local Data Company, which provides information on the retail sector, says this represents some 40% of the once-national chain. The company said some experts believed about 150 stores may never be used as shops again. The biggest group now using the outlets are discount retailers, including Poundland. It, along with 99p Stores and B&M Bargains, occupy 25% of former premises. The next biggest takers of ex-Woolworths stores are supermarkets. New owners include Iceland, which has taken more than 60 premises, and Waitrose. | |
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There could be two reasons for the fact that they are still vacant. One is that the retail market is still dire, or most likely the landlords are deliberately stilling on them and refusing to let unless the rents are equivalent to what they had before. This would also mean that councils could be denied rate income from them.