THE number of abandoned business premises in York has hit a new all-time high.

New figures from City of York Council show there are 739 shops, offices, warehouses and other business premises standing vacant.

The figure represents a rise of 90 since last May, and is the highest since before the council began keeping records in April 2000.

Most of the rise is in offices, with 321 standing empty – up from 269 last May. The number of empty shops has risen from 122 to 131, while there are seven more empty workshops.

Bryn Jones, the council’s head of economic development, said some of the increase was due to businesses introducing flexible working, and insisted York’s economy was well-placed to take advantage of investment.

But Coun David Scott, chairman of the council’s economic and city development committee, said he had warned the council last year that the number of empty shops would rise. He said the proposed increase in VAT would add to the retailers’ difficulties.

He said: “York has so far been relatively insulated from the economic downturn, but that does not mean this will continue. The fact that office space is available will probably mean well-paid jobs have left the city – not even taking account of the massive disasters such as Jarvis.

“And you just need to walk down Coney Street to see, yet again, more property becoming empty – even if TK Maxx are finally moving into the old Boots site.”

Mr Jones said the new figures did not take account of recent modernisations and conversions in the city.

He said: “In order to cut down on costs, businesses have also been down-sizing and introducing more flexible working arrangements.

“With the economy now moving out of recession, York, with its relatively buoyant economy, is well placed to take advantage of growth in commercial investment confidence.”

He said that view was borne out by the recent study from commercial agents Drivers Jonas.