The number of vacant commercial properties in Brighton and Hove has reached it lowest level in ten years.

In 1991, 14 per cent of its commercial property was empty. This figure rose to 17 per cent in 1995 then fell to six per cent in 2001, just below the national average of seven per cent.

In East Sussex, the percentage of vacant commercial buildings in 1991 stood at four per cent, half the national average.

This figure peaked in 1995 and then fell back to six per cent in 2001, according to figures published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Hastings had a rate of one per cent in 1991, rising to 16 per cent in 1996 then dropping back to eight per cent in 2001.

Eastbourne has the least amount of space available in East Sussex with just four per cent of its commercial property available.

In 1991, six per cent was vacant but in1995 the figure was 15 per cent.

West Sussex started the Nineties with eight per cent of its commercial space vacant, peaking at 11 per cent for the following three years and falling back to five per cent in 2001, the last year for which figures are available.

In 1991, Chichester had a vacancy rate of eight per cent, peaking at 17 per cent the following year and falling to three per cent in 2001, the lowest in West Sussex.

Adur had a rate of 14 per cent in 1991 and five per cent in 2001.

Taking the ten year period as a whole, London had the greatest range in vacancy rates (nine per cent in 2000-01 to 15 per cent in 1993-94) and the most stable region was the West Midlands (six per cent in 1991-92 to eight per cent in 1992-93).

The figures detail vacancy rates for commercial and industrial property from 1991 to 2001 across the UK.

They show regional variations down to local authority level.

These are the first statistics that provide vacancy rates for commercial properties in all English local authorities.

Tuesday May 20 2003