For years Perth’s retail sector has been derided as a shadow of its former self, but new evidence suggests a resurgence is under way.
An influx of quality new retailers and businesses has ensured that it now has the lowest retail vacancy rate of any major Scottish town or city.
The positive news has been hailed by Perth and Kinross Council which has been working hard to fill units and use an increasingly diverse calendar of events to attract shoppers and visitors.
The heart has been ripped out of many Scottish communities, with failed businesses and the fall of one-time retail giants giving many a ghostly air.
In fact, as many as one in 11 shop units are lying empty on high streets and it is feared that in some the decline may be irreversible.
Within Perth, however, a number of long empty units have been brought back into use and several new retailers are about to be unveiled.
The retail vacancy rate for Perth city centre is, at just 7.69%. It sits comfortably below the Scottish Retail Consortium’s national average vacancy rate of 9.1%.
“In terms of high streets across Scotland, Perth continues to weather the economic storm better than most,” an SRC spokesman said.
The overall picture for Scotland is nonetheless healthier than elsewhere, as the overall UK vacancy rate is higher at 10.1%.
In the past, the Fair City’s mix of big names and independent retailers has insulated it from some of the worst variations within the market, with its centre assessed by the SRC as one of the country’s mostvaried.
The SRC spokesman said the varied nature of its retail sector had helped it to survive where other communities have floundered in the face of the loss of traditional high street chains.
“We want to see a diverse mix of retailers in our town and city centres as it is not good to have a monopoly of one type of store,” he said.
“Even here in Perth, however, there remains significant room for improvement.”
“Until the Scottish Government grasps that the level of business rates is an economic lever that they control then we will not properly tackle vacancy rates.
“They only ever seem to rise and since the crash there has been no pressure alleviated.
“That is punishing struggling retailers and small to medium businesses across the country.”
The issue of business rates is just one of a number of cautionary caveats to the vacancy rate positivity.
Some local people still believe the city’s retail sector to be in freefall, while sales figures remain concerning for many retailers.
In addition, some local independent retailers continue to question the council’s support of the sector.
Nonetheless, a Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman said: “With the new Pandora Perth and USC stores opening on the High Street within the past couple of weeks, Perth city centre is continuing to prove more resilient than other similar destinations.
“Through our Invest in Perth and Business Growth teams, the council offers a number of initiatives to support retail.
“Later this year the business growth team will once again be working with partners to host a programme of events to support new and growing businesses throughout Perth and Kinross during Business and Enterprise Month 2014 in November,” she said.