Altrincham hits back at empty shops report

SEVERAL business leaders in Altrincham have responded vigorously to research that said the town has more empty units than any other.

Retail analyst the Local Data Company surveyed more than 700 towns and cities between January and June and placed Altrincham at the top of its medium-sized towns with a vacancy rate of 30%, up 8.7% in six months.

McCafferty Asset Management, which manages the town’s Stamford Quarter, said it has succeeded in attracting businesses and shoppers to the town.

The 400,000 sq ft centre has a vacancy rate of around 3%, down from 8% in March. Nearly all the remaining space is under offer to “major nationals” said McCafferty.

Barbara Hallwood, chief executive of the town’s chamber of commerce said: “We recognise that the town has many vacant units however around half of these are awaiting regeneration. One of the main retail areas, the Stamford Quarter provides 400,000 sq ft of retail space. At the present time just 13,277 sq ft remain.”

She also pointed out that the Manchester developer Nikal is pushing ahead with a £100m mixed use scheme.

McCafferty Asset Management’s managing director Ken Hutchings said: “Trafford is an affluent area and Altrincham is a fabulous market town. Over the past six months we have worked long and hard in attracting new businesses to the town and I am delighted to report that we have been successful.”