More than half of BHS stores are still vacant, two years after the retailer’s last store closed.
Research from the Local Data Company showed that 52% of its sites remained unoccupied. Of the final 159 locations BHS had when it collapsed in summer 2016, 84 are empty.
According to the data, twelve BHS stores have been re-let in the past year.
Since the collapse Primark has taken the most sites with seven stores in former BHS properties, followed by B&M with six and Poundland with five.
Some BHS stores have been split into multiple stores, while a handful remain under redevelopment. Two have been demolished, while the former Ealing site is subject to proposals for 130 new homes from So Resi.
Senior insight analyst Ronald Nyakairu said: “Two years on from the closure of the last BHS store, just over half of stores still remain vacant. This is indicative of the challenge landlords will face over the next 12 to 18 months as more department stores close.
“However, research has shown that with skillful asset management, landlords can find new uses for these properties. Many of the store owners have either reformatted the stores to create smaller units for expanding fashion chains like Joules and Uniqlo, or targeted occupiers that can utilise the extra floorspace to add concessions like coffee shops or sister brands such as Next opening Lipsy and Next Home.
“Looking forward, the challenge will remain as the list of occupiers that are both looking to expand, and that don’t already have a presence in the towns set to see closures, is not limitless.”
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