Mixed picture on health of Nairn according to new Highland Council survey
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A 'Town Centre Health Check' by Highland Council provides a mixed picture on the health and attractiveness of Nairn town centre.
Vacancy rates for businesses have increased from 13.7 per cent in 2018 to 15.3 per cent in summer 2022 when the survey was carried out.
The town scored relatively well in the surveyor's on-site qualitative assessment, with an aggregated score of 44 out of 55 and received top marks for Public Transport and Parking.
In a survey of members of the public, "Safety and Security" scored the highest out of the five categories with 97 out of a possible 100.
Next, "Accessibility" scored 90, "Pavements and Streets" scored 74, "Evening Economy" scored 69 and "Retail" scored 63.
The town centre scored 393 out of a possible total of 500, giving Nairn a 78.6 per cent public satisfaction rating.
On the vacancy rate the report stated: "This increased rate may be due to a declining retail market and/or lack of appeal for businesses to set up shop in the town centre.
"It is important to recognise that this audit was undertaken in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and these vacancy/occupancy rates may simply be a reflection on the economic difficulties that have been faced, on a global scale, over the past few years.
"It will be interesting to see how the picture may change between the 2022 study and the next town centre health check."
Related article: Around one in eight properties in Inverness city centre currently vacant
Chairman of the council's economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “Checking the strength and vitality of our town centres is essential to enable better decision and policy making.
“By presenting detailed information and analysis of the data collected alongside a commentary on each location allows a range of users to access information relevant to them."
You can access the full report, including assessments of town centres across the Highlands, here
