Accrington Arndale Centre dubbed as in "dreadful" state

The Accrington Arndale was once home to high-street brands like Marks and Spencer and H Samuel.

In 2024, the premises mostly contains charity shops, discount stores, and even a food bank.

"The first thing I do in a morning is mop up because of all the leaks," James Parker of Traders Direct said.

A bucket collecting water (Image: NQ) Mr Parker added: "It's in a terrible state and has not been maintained properly, you only have to look at all the leaks everywhere to know that."

Read More: Accrington town centre died the day that M&S closed down

A food court, once home to Burger King and Papa John's, is now completely empty, with Peacocks, New Look, Clintons, Thorntons, and many others having left the shopping precinct.

WH Smith is still going, and it may be their dearth of shops which earns the centre its 2.9 star rating on Google reviews. 

The entrance to the precinct (Image: NQ) James said: "I think we're only one closure away from things getting quite drastic here, we'll be lucky if the place keeps going.

"Savers - a discount store in the centre - is quite busy, but if that or WH Smiths shuts I can see the whole place shutting."

The former H Samuel building (Image: NQ) The Accrington business owner, originally from North Wales, said that in fairness, management at the Arndale Centre has been very quick to respond to maintenance issues.

"It must be really difficult for the owners because it's just not getting the income or revenue," he said. 

Shopper, Melissa Woods, was passing through the Arndale next to where numerous buckets were collecting dripping water.

She said: "It's absolutely disgraceful.

"I used to come here when I was a kid with my grandma and it was absolutely heaving, it's just so sad to see it in this state.

Inside the Arndale (Image: NQ) "It's not what it used to be at all."

Melissa agreed the Arndale is probably only one or two major closures away from closing for good.

The owner of JB Bargains appeared to have a large patch of water at her shop's entrance, with customers pushing prams having to negotiate it upon entering.

The wet floor from the leaking roof at JB Bargains (Image: NQ) She didn't wish to comment but said it would be "taken up with the management this afternoon". 

It's a far cry from when the Arndale opened in 1987, with comedian Ken Dodd visiting to unveil the latest addition to what was a comparatively booming high street at the time.

Thousands reportedly swarmed to catch a glimpse of the new purchase paradise, so much so that Dodd was blocked from arriving on time.

Accrington Arndale's demise is all part of what has been dubbed 'urban decay' in British towns.

Shopping centres now have average vacancy rates of 19 per cent, according to property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH).

Across the M65 in Burnley, The Charter Walk Shopping Centre was bought by Burnley Council for £20.7 million, thanks to funds from the Public Works Loan Board, following a similar decline in footfall.

(Image: NQ) Bolton Council also purchased the Crompton Place Shopping Centre for £14.7m, a move which has allowed for the building's impending demolition.

Purchases of 20th-century precincts by Bury Council, Salford City Council, and Manchester City Council all point towards the acquisition of these buildings by local authorities becoming a trend.

Speaking back in July, Hyndburn Council leader, Munsif Dad, said all options were open and didn't rule out the council purchasing Accrington Arndale.

The Jesta Group are the current owners of the failing shopping centre. The firm declined to comment when approached regarding the state of the precinct.