Nearly one commercial premise in ten is empty in Belgium

The number of empty buildings in on the increase in Belgium. This is what has emerged from a study by Locatus, a company that specialises in commercial information in the distribution sector.
It was relayed by L’Echo and La Libre Belgique on Tuesday. The study was done in the field by a team of investigators who record changes in the commercial zones day after day. It reveals that out of more than 20,8 million metres squared of commercial premises in Belgium, 7.6% was not occupied at the end of last January. This figure goes up to 9% if we count the number of commercial outlets, which includes food stores and non-food stores, as well as bank agencies, car dealerships, catering and other services.

The economic crisis is the main element used to explain the increase in vacant premises. The number of outlets that have shut went up from 11,453 in 2009 to 18,977 in 2015, an increase of 66%. In six years, the number of unoccupied square metres went up from 4.8% to 7.6% of the total surface.

(Source: Belga)


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