Bradford is grappling with one of the highest retail vacancy rates in the UK, with the number of empty shops in the city nearly double that of major centres like London and Cambridge, according to a recent report.
While the findings may surprise some, local business leaders say the issue has been long in the making.
“It’s not exactly news for those who know Bradford,” BBC quoted Jonny Noble, chief executive of Bradford BID, as saying. “We have had a lot of not fit-for-purpose retail for years.”
The retail decline is being driven by a combination of outdated infrastructure, shifting shopping behaviours, and competition from nearby cities and out-of-town retail hubs.
The Kirkgate Centre, earmarked for demolition but with no confirmed timeline, remains dotted with vacant units. Even the relatively busier Broadway Shopping Centre has seen a notable number of closures, with some retailers citing high rent and declining footfall as key issues.
Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth called for a strategic reset, saying landlords need to get real and rethink the space to make retail spaces accessible, modern and appealing.
Bradford BID’s own research suggests that vacancy rates are beginning to ease slightly, thanks in part to efforts to repurpose outdated units and reduce surplus retail space.
“It’s about making the city centre fit for purpose,” Noble said. “We’re not just shrinking for the sake of it — we’re aligning with what today’s shoppers actually want: experiential, tactile retail.”
He added that the era of homogenous high streets is over, and Bradford must embrace a more diverse and independent mix of retailers.
“Retail used to be everything. You'd look down every street around the country and see all the same signs. Well, that is not happening anymore,” Noble said. “One thing I would be really keen to see is more independents; they are the life and soul of a city centre."
Si Cunningham, chair of Bradford Civic Society, echoed the concerns, noting that proximity to Leeds and a rise in online shopping have further compounded the challenge.
"There's an issue with wider national and international trends and retailers are not needing as many branches anymore, so they are consolidating the bricks and mortar branches into bigger regional centres.
"We do risk cities like Bradford, that are not regional centres, losing out because of that, but that probably highlights why it's important for Bradford to have a really strong independent offer," BBC quoted Cunningham as saying.