More than quarter of Ballymena shops now empty - report

The town, widely recognised as the retail hub of County Antrim outside Belfast, has seen its vacancy rate grow to 27% in the past year - a rise of 10%.

Bangor and Lisburn have also seen increases to 26% and 25% respectively.

The report, by commercial estate agents Lisney, said “prohibitive” business rates remain the “primary factor” for the deterioration of prime locations in some town centres.

Retailers looking at costs “will more readily locate in out of town or more secondary locations,” it said.

Belfast, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Magherafelt and Londonderry were among locations which recorded an improving situation.

Lisney says Northern Ireland-wide, the problem of empty shops has seemingly stabilised but the regional average of 19% is still the highest in the UK.

The report also reveals a six-fold increase in commercial property transactions over the past two years - “a clear indication market recovery may finally be underway.”