BOARDED up shop units has given an 'opportunity' for independent businesses to help Reading town centre bounce back from Covid, a council spokesman has said.

Since April 12, non-essential retailers have been open to shoppers with footfall in Reading last week back to 80 per cent, pre coronavirus times.

But whilst business is booming for reopened shops, there are boarded up and empty units in Reading's town centre streets.

The victims of the pandemic’s impact on retail include big chains like Thorton's and Clinton's Cards on Broad Street and Debenhams in the Oracle.

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The future of these empty shop units is currently uncertain, but a spokesman for Reading Borough Council said there are numerous lease agreements that have been made on small units which demonstrates an ongoing demand for retail space.

They said: "Reading remains extremely well-placed to recover from the pandemic as a regional centre, with excellent connectivity and great arts leisure and recreational facilities in and around the centre, with many more people living in the centre than ever and more residential units being built.  Together all of these things will help stimulate a shopping revival in the town.

Reading Chronicle:

“While there has no doubt been an impact on retail units in every town centre, including in Reading, it is also normal for the letting of smaller units to change hands."

Reading town centre has also proven that shops can survive in the middle of a pandemic, with shops coming out on the other side.

Retailers like John Lewis have managed to remain open despite a number of their stores announcing closures during Covid-19.

Other shops like Claas Olsen in Reading have also remained in the high street, priding itself as the only store in the UK.

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Numerous lease agreements covering nearly 70, 000sqft retail space has also been undertaken on smaller units, demonstrating an ongoing demand for space.

A number of lease agreements are by independents, which again is a good sign.

Reading Chronicle:

The council spokesman added: “Reading has been more resilient to the impacts of the past year than most towns of its size in the country, against a national picture in which the retail, hospitality, arts and leisure have been hardest hit. 

"The Council with its partners have worked tirelessly however to forward £50 million of grants and £100 million in rate rebates to these most vulnerable businesses to help them survive."

RBC said they have also been awarded £85,000 from Historic England as part of the Reading High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) to create and deliver community-led cultural activities within the HSHAZ area high streets over the next three years.

Adding: "Together we are undertaking a major piece of work to develop a town centre strategy for the future, linking our planning policy framework and our Reading 2050 vision. 

"We will factor in the current trends and envisage a changing face of retail, residential arts culture and leisure forming a key part of that future.”