Economic conditions remain difficult for town centre shops, according to a detailed review of Perth’s retail sector.
The report shows that while consumers continue to spend freely in supermarkets, high street shops are enduring more testing times.
However, there are predictions of a gradual recovery in retail expenditure over the medium term.
The review will be considered by Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee this week and was carried out to provide information on how retail needs to develop in the area.
There are hopes Perth will be able to maintain a strong economic and a vibrant town centre as, despite the challenges, it is continuing to outperform many towns and cities across the UK.
A 2010 survey revealed there were 62 vacant retail units in the town centre out of a total of 599. This 10.4% vacancy rate is lower than the Scottish and UK average.
This has been helped in part by investment in the vacant Woolworths unit in High Street and the “Primark effect” with the low-cost retailer having been credited for returning confidence to the sector.
Councillors will hear how, in order to continue to retain and attract retailers and compete with other centres such as Dundee and Stirling, Perth town centre will need more large retail units as preferred by high street brand stores.
The local authority had hoped to see a modern retail development with large units created at Mill Street, but there has been no progress on this project due to the economic situation.
This has also led to the decision to refurbish the former Woolworths building rather than demolish it to make way for a prestige shopping street.
Enterprise and infrastructure convener John Kellas welcomed the report, saying, “This review is very useful in giving us a picture of what is happening in the local retail sector. The review will inform the new local development plan so that it can support the future development of retail in Perth city centre.”