Geograph - photograph every grid square

On 20 February 2012 the BBC reported “Northern Ireland continues to have the highest town centre shop vacancy rate in the UK, according to a new survey. The survey, on behalf of the British Retail Consortium, recorded high street footfall and shop occupancy. The survey reported that 14% of shops in Northern Ireland's high streets and shopping centres are empty, compared to the UK average of 11%”.
This shared description shows some of the vacant shops in the Belfast City Council district. There are many reasons why shops close including the expiry of a lease, illness/death, redevelopment, corporate acquisitions and rationalisations, reorganisation and insolvency. The photographs submitted by me appear as a matter of record only and do not attempt to comment on the reasons for closure. They should not be used to draw any conclusions and are unlikely to be suitable for business or academic research.
Note added 17 February 2013. This collection probably shows the peak of the recession in Belfast. Some of the premises have since been re-let and are trading with new occupants. I do not intend to add any further photographs taken after today.

The former Sinclair’s department store, at the corner of Royal Avenue and (lower) North Street was completed in 1926 to a design by James Scott, architect and civil engineer. The present Art Deco facade was added in 1935. In 1918 (eight years before its completion) there were branches of the “Sinclair’s” business at 77,81,85, 87. 89, 91, 93, 97 and 103 Royal Avenue. The store closed in the 1970’s later being converted to shops and offices. Now known as Sinclair House with an address of 89/101 Royal Avenue. There are items of Art Deco architectural detail (mostly on the upper floors) on both the Royal Avenue and North Street sides.
Part of the ground floor, which has frontages to North Street and Royal Avenue, is the subject of the following application for planning permission: “Z/2013/1308/F 7/11/2013 Vacant bank premises Sinclair House 91-93 Royal Avenue Belfast Reconfiguration of internal floor space and external alterations to facade to form new Tesco Express”. Note added 13 July 2014- the Planning Service website discloses the following “PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED 16/05/2014”