One Year On: Galashiels Vacancy Rate Drops 3 Percentage Points

A year ago, BID for Galashiels began working with the Vacant Shops Academy (VSA) to take a more proactive approach to vacant commercial properties in the town centre.

It started with a detailed audit in October 2025, building a clearer picture of every vacant unit, what was happening with it and where there were opportunities to help bring properties back into use.

Since then, we've been putting that information to work. Through direct conversations with landlords and agents, supporting prospective businesses and identifying opportunities across the town centre, we've been working to tackle some of the barriers that can leave commercial properties sitting empty.

One year on, we've repeated the audit, giving us our first opportunity to measure how the picture has changed and reflect on the work happening behind the scenes.

The numbers show real momentum.

HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS...

What's happening behind the numbers?

Perhaps the most encouraging theme is movement. New businesses are choosing Galashiels, existing businesses are finding opportunities to grow and vacant properties are being brought back into use.

There is also activity happening behind shopfronts that isn't necessarily visible yet. Refits, renovations, planning and redevelopment are underway in a number of properties, pointing to further investment and change to come.

While not every change can be attributed directly to the BID or VSA, our work is about helping create more of these opportunities, making it easier for businesses to find suitable premises and supporting landlords in bringing their properties back into use.

Understanding our vacant properties

One of the biggest pieces of work over the past year has been contacting landlords and agents to understand their plans for individual properties, what might be preventing them from being occupied and where there could be opportunities to help.

This has been particularly valuable because not every vacant property is openly marketed, and some have circumstances that aren't obvious from the outside. Having those conversations gives us a much clearer understanding of what's available, what might become available and where our efforts could make a difference.

We've also carried out a gap analysis of the town centre, looking at the existing mix of businesses and services and identifying areas where Galashiels could offer more. We're using that information to proactively approach businesses that could complement what's already here, with potential premises in mind rather than simply waiting for enquiries to come to us.

Connecting businesses with the right premises

Interest in Galashiels is coming from a broad mix of potential occupiers, including independent retailers, creative businesses, food operators, healthcare and professional services, alongside existing local businesses looking for opportunities to expand.

Through the VSA partnership, we've been introducing prospective tenants to suitable properties, arranging viewings and helping them understand the practical and financial commitments involved. That means looking beyond the rent to consider business rates, utilities, insurance, fit-out costs and other expenses, so businesses can make informed decisions about whether a unit is sustainable for them.

We also help prospective occupiers explore relevant third-party funding and grants, understand the leasing process and access support as they prepare to open.

A great example is Rock Your Garden, which secured its first permanent premises at 47 Channel Street with support from the Vacant Shops Academy. We worked with owner Lee McIlduff to understand his requirements, identified three potential properties, arranged viewings and helped him navigate the lease process once he'd found the right space.

It's a practical example of how the right guidance and connections can help turn an ambition into an occupied shopfront. You can read the full Rock Your Garden story here.

Tackling the barriers to occupation

Bringing an empty property back into use isn't always straightforward. We're fortunate to have many engaged landlords who work with us to find suitable occupiers, but every property comes with its own circumstances.

Some require significant investment before they can be occupied, some owners are based outside the area, and in other cases asking rents and what the local market can realistically support don't yet align.

Understanding these challenges allows us to explore practical alternatives. We're having conversations with landlords about short-term letting opportunities, looking at how temporary or 'meanwhile use' projects could activate empty spaces and exploring whether funding initiatives could help address some of the costs that prevent

businesses from taking on premises.

Several meanwhile use opportunities are currently in development, and we're hopeful these will begin to take shape soon. Temporary uses can help keep properties active and looked after while landlords continue searching for longer-term tenants, as well as giving smaller businesses or organisations a chance to test ideas.

We've already seen how even a shop window can make a difference. Working with a supportive landlord and Borders Care Voice's Flourish project, we helped create the Window to Wellness community noticeboard at the former Clydesdale Bank building on the High Street, giving an otherwise empty shopfront a positive purpose.

You can read more about the project and the transformation of the former Clydesdale Bank here.

We're also helping businesses better understand the financial support that may be available when taking on commercial premises. Our previous article on business rates and available reliefs explains some of the options worth exploring.

Looking beyond individual properties

Our approach also considers the wider streets and trading areas around vacant properties, recognising that successful town centres depend on more than simply filling individual units.

On Channel Street, we facilitated a working group with local traders at the Great Tapestry of Scotland to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the street. Those conversations have helped inform a phased regeneration plan, providing a more coordinated approach to future improvements.

This wider perspective matters because every vacant property has an impact beyond its own frontage. Empty shops can affect how welcoming a street feels, while bringing new businesses into previously unused spaces can encourage more people to explore, spend time and support neighbouring traders.

We explored this in more detail in our earlier article, Why Empty Shops Matter More Than You Think.

What does this mean for landlords?

An important part of the VSA work is building stronger relationships with commercial property owners and making it easier for them to connect with potential tenants.

For landlords, this means access to additional support at no charge through the BID partnership. We can help promote available properties to businesses we've identified as a potential fit, arrange introductions and viewings, and support prospective tenants in understanding the commitments involved before signing a lease.

This preparation benefits both sides. Businesses that have considered their costs, explored funding opportunities and received guidance on the process are better equipped to make sustainable decisions, potentially reducing the risk of a tenancy ending prematurely and a property becoming vacant again.

We're also happy to discuss what our gap analysis is telling us about the types of businesses Galashiels could benefit from, and explore whether short-term or temporary use might be suitable for properties awaiting longer-term tenants.

We recognise that landlords have their own financial commitments and commercial considerations. Our aim is to work alongside property owners, share what we're learning and help identify opportunities that make sense for their premises while contributing to the wider town centre.

Building on the momentum

There is still plenty of work to do, but the picture today is different from a year ago. We have better information about our vacant properties, stronger relationships with landlords and agents, a clearer understanding of the opportunities within the town centre and active interest from businesses considering Galashiels.

The progress shown in the latest audit is encouraging, but equally important is the work taking place behind those figures. The conversations, property viewings, business introductions and practical support are all helping to build a stronger foundation for future investment.

Our focus now is to build on that momentum, progress the opportunities already in development and continue working with landlords and businesses to bring more vacant properties back into productive use.

Every occupied unit has the potential to strengthen the wider town centre, offering more choice for customers, encouraging footfall and creating opportunities for neighbouring businesses. That's why reducing vacancies remains an important part of our work for Galashiels.

Could we work with you?

Are you a landlord with an available property, or thinking about opening, relocating or expanding a business in Galashiels? We'd like to hear from you.

Whether you have a unit to discuss, are exploring premises for your business or would simply like to understand what support is available, please get in touch.

For more information, or to request the full VSA one-year data, contact Claire at claire@bidforgalashiels.com.