Moray town centres show resilience amid changing retail landscape
Moray’s town centres continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptability as retail and leisure patterns evolve, according to the 2025 Moray Town Centre Health Check.
The Health Check includes detailed assessments of the town centres of Elgin, Forres, Keith, Buckie and Lossiemouth, with additional audits carried out in Aberlour, Dufftown, Fochabers and Rothes.
The findings highlight an ongoing shift in the role of town centres. Leisure and social activities - including cafés, restaurants, bars and tourist-focused businesses - are growing in prominence, particularly in Elgin and Lossiemouth. At the same time, some traditional retail categories such as clothing, books, gifts and home goods continue to experience decline, reflecting wider national trends.
Elgin currently records the highest vacancy rate, at around 20% of town centre units. However, this figure is significantly influenced by the closure of the St Giles Shopping Centre, which alone accounts for around half of the vacant units identified. When the St Giles Shopping Centre is excluded, the majority of Elgin’s city centre units remain in active use, with new independent businesses opening and former vacancies being taken up. The relocation of businesses from St Giles has also helped to support occupancy elsewhere in the city centre.
Independent retailers continue to play a vital role across Moray’s town centres, supporting local economies and contributing to vibrant, distinctive places. Elsewhere, the picture is more positive, with towns such as Forres and Buckie seeing notable reductions in vacancy levels in recent years. Forres, in particular, has more than halved the number of empty units since the previous Health Check.
The Moray Town Centre Health Check 2025 provides an important evidence base to support planning decisions, regeneration activity and future investment, helping town centres continue to adapt and thrive.
Cllr David Gordon, Chair of Moray Council’s Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, said: “Town centre health checks give us a clear picture of where our towns are thriving and where more support is needed.
“The 2025 report highlights both opportunities and challenges - from the success of our independent retailers and growing leisure offerings to the need to address vacancies in certain towns. This evidence will be central to our ongoing work in the Local Development Plan and future town centre improvements.”
Read the report in full here.