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Bromley and Beckenham have been singled out in a report showing the percentage of vacant shop premises in the UK.  They were shown to have a vacancy rate of 11.7% which brings them both into the top 10 High Streets in London in terms of percentage of empty retail premises.  The report, compiled by the Local Data Company, showed that 12 out of the 374 shops in the centre of Bromley were vacant, whilst Beckenham had a much higher rate at 11 out of its 156 outlets.   The company also highlighted Southlands Road in Bromley, in December 2009 when the report was compiled, all 17 shop premises in the road were vacant.

Other towns in the borough have not seen such a dramatic rise in empty shop space.

A spokeswoman from the British Property Federation blamed the increase in shopping over the internet which is overseeing a “...fundamental reshaping of High Streets”.

The vacancy rate for Bromley and Beckenham is still below the national average of 12.4%, and Bromley Council is keen to point out that the borough has a number of initiatives in play, which are aimed at ensuring the town centres are appealing to investors and new businesses as well as shoppers themselves.  One such scheme is the national Small Business Rate Relief Scheme, of which the vast majority of small retail businesses in the borough are eligible.