Most Toys R Us sites still vacant one year on

Almost two-thirds of the Toys R Us UK portfolio remains vacant a year after the retailer fell into administration. According to Radius Data Exchange analysis, only 36% of the shops which became vacant when the retailer collapsed in February 2018 have been occupied by new tenants or have been earmarked for refurbishment. The value sector has let 30% of those stores, with B&M Bargains and Home Bargains being the most active occupiers, taking advantage of big-box retail park units. Toys R Us’ former estate totals 3m sq ft, which is 15% of all the floorspace lost since the start of the retail crisis in January 2018. The South West and Wales lead the way with plans for more than 50% of their Toys R Us stores, but only one in 10 stores in the East Midlands currently have plans in the pipeline. Despite increasing vacancy rates in the out-of-town sector, in which the Toys R Us estate largely sits, applications for new schemes have doubled in the past five years.   To send feedback, e-mail james.child@egi.co.uk or tweet @JamesChildEG or @estatesgazette