Charges cut for struggling shops

Retailers at two Yorkshire shopping centres are to see their running costs reduced as part of a trial to help them cope with the economic downturn.

Property companies Land Securities and British Land, which own the White Rose Centre in Leeds and Meadowhall in Sheffield are cutting service charges.

The costs will be reduced by up to 20%, the companies said.

The British Retail Consortium said: "Support from landlords is essential to help us ride out the economic storm."

A spokesman for Land Securities, which owns the White Rose Centre, said: "We have always aimed to have a very constructive relationship with retailers.

"We have been happy to help them out in the past and we see this agreement as a good step forward in these difficult times."

Edward Cooke, the British Retail Consortium's head of property, said he wanted all landlords to offer retailers more favourable payment terms to ease cash flow pressures.

He said: "As is evident from recent events it is not only small retailers but well known high street names that are struggling to cope in the current economic climate," he said.