How Melton Mowbray rates in a league table for empty shops in the county

As British high streets continue to feel the pressure and the cost of living crisis continues to bite, the figures show that a good number of retail units across Leicestershire are currently vacant.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked all the county’s borough and district councils to share the retail vacancy rates in their biggest towns.

While all results came in under the national average of 14 per cent, the data shows that many county towns still have dozens of empty units.

In June 2026, Loughborough’s vacancy rate was just more than 12 per cent, making it the emptiest in Leicestershire.

Next was Coalville, where 10 per cent of shops stood empty according to the latest data.

Hinckley had a rate of nine per cent while the market town of Melton came in at 7.4 per cent and the figure for vacant retail units in Oadby was 6.6 per cent.

Performing better were the towns in Harborough district, with four per cent of shops in Lutterworth currently empty.

The district’s hub, Market Harborough, had a score of three per cent.

In North West Leicestershire’s Ashby-de-la-Zouch, only two per cent of shops were vacant while just 1.6 per cent of Oadby’s units were unoccupied, making it the least empty in the county.

The government has been introducing measures allowing local authorities to sort out their town centres, including more control over the number of vape and betting shops and lower business rates for nightlife venues.

Since 2024, Westminster has also pushed its High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) initiative, which requires landlords to rent out continually vacant units to local businesses or community groups.

Melton Borough Council said that due to a quick turnover rate in vacant properties, there was no need to pursue the government’s HSRA scheme.

It says footfall in the town increased by 10 per cent last year, bringing the total visitors to more than two million.

It adds those gains are being sustained this year despite the ‘ongoing challenges facing the retail sector nationally’.

Councillor Donald Pritchett, portfolio holder for planning policy, economic growth and town centre, said: “Across the borough of Melton, we benefit from a strong mix of national and independent businesses, alongside thriving local centres that support communities and attract visitors.

“Melton Mowbray’s distinctive market town character, regular events programme and well-established food heritage continue to play a significant role in supporting footfall and town centre businesses throughout the year.”

Analysis from the Centre for Social Justice claims the country’s high streets are changing and not necessarily for the better.

According to the report, nearly 1,800 pubs and bars have been lost in the UK since 2016, while tobacco and vape outlets rose from 245 to nearly 2,200 in the same period.

Which? also highlights the ‘frightening pace’ that British banks are closing their doors, with just under 7,000 during a similar period.

Vacant units in Melton currently are the former Costa Coffee and Butterwick buildings, the old Santander premises and The Mall shopping precinct.