One In Four Barrow High Street Premises Are Vacant, Figures Reveal
Around one in four commercial premises in Barrow town centre are vacant, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the town’s high street.
Figures reported in November 2026 put Barrow’s vacancy rate at 25.1 per cent, excluding The Mall. This is significantly higher than the 13.5 per cent national average cited in recent government figures, underlining the pressure on the town’s retail and commercial centre.
The figures form part of wider concerns about the number of empty shops across Westmorland and Furness. Vacant premises can affect the appearance of shopping streets, reduce activity and make it harder to attract new businesses and investment.
Westmorland and Furness Council has been considering new powers designed to tackle persistent commercial vacancies. Its proposed High Street Rental Auctions scheme would allow the authority to arrange leases for eligible properties that have remained empty for extended periods where landlords have not taken reasonable steps to find tenants.
The proposed pilot covers selected areas of Barrow, including Cavendish Street, Dalkeith Street, Dalton Road, Duke Street, Paxton Street, Portland Walk, Scott Street and William Street. The council has also proposed similar designated areas in Kendal, Penrith and Ulverston.
Under the scheme, a commercial property may qualify if it has been unoccupied continuously for at least 12 months, or for a total of 366 days within a 24-month period. The intention is to encourage landlords to let their properties voluntarily, with the auction process acting as a potential intervention when prolonged vacancies remain unresolved.
The council’s wider plans for Barrow also include a major town centre transformation through the Heart of Barrow programme. The project forms part of a proposed £200 million investment in the town over ten years, with plans involving cultural and leisure facilities, community spaces, housing and employment opportunities.
The challenge for Barrow will be turning these plans into visible improvements for residents, shoppers and local businesses. Bringing empty premises back into use could help increase footfall, create opportunities for independent traders and strengthen the town centre’s role as a place to shop, work and meet.
For further local news, community updates and story tips, contact news@lakelandpost.co.uk or 0333 090 2080.