COLCHESTER town centre is bucking the national trend and has its lowest number of empty units for two years.

Despite a number of big name casualties in the past 18 months, including Debenhams and Topshop, Our Colchester Business Improvement District (BID) says its vacant unit survey shows the town centre has vacancy rate of 10.4 per cent, with 76 ground floor units available.

This is comfortably below the UK average of 13.7 per cent and the average for the east of England of 13 per cent.

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the BID also says there have been more new firms arrive in the town centre than closures with new businesses like Victoria Yum Cake, Kintsu and The Cake Box opening.

Gazette: Picture: Eleanor Church / Lark Rise PictuPicture: Eleanor Church / Lark Rise Pictu

Huge investment is planned in the town centre, with the We Are Colchester partnership securing £18.2 million from the Government’s Towns Fund pot.

Improvements are being made to public realm and infrastructure including at St Nicholas Square, where a new one-way system will complement the redevelopment of the old Co-op department store.

The Mercury Theatre is reopening after its £11 million renovation and The George Hotel has just undergone a £10 million revamp.

BID manager Sam Good said despite a difficult year it was an exciting time for the town centre.

“With the wealth of investment which has been made in the town, seen from the refurbishment of The George Hotel, Mercury Theatre, and the awarding of the Towns Fund, Colchester has a great potential for growth and development," he said.

“The town has always had a great community behind it and it’s promising to see new shops, reopenings, and investment going into the town centre.

“I’m looking forward to watching the town centre grow in the coming years and support businesses new and old in the town centre to promote the vibrant community we’re so lucky to have.”

Plans have also been revealed for a mystery tenant to move in to the old Topshop unit, in Lion Walk Shopping Centre. Minor amendments are set to be made to accommodate the new business, which has not yet been named.

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Residents took to the Gazette Facebook to suggest what they’d like to see move in.

Caroline Giggins said: “The White Company please. Love that shop and it would go really nicely for that location.

Alan Munson said: “An arcade with pop-ups for local craft and designers, clothing, jewellery etc and coffee.”