Vacancy rates in high street shops trebled in the first six months of the year but Radlett is going its own way and has seen a splurge of new shop ownership, according to a shop owner who used to be an analysist.

Analysts Experian predict the vacancy rate across the country will rise to 15 per cent by the end of the year but new shops are cropping up and old shops have been replaced with new in Radlett.

In Radlett’s Oakway parade of shops, boutique home and giftware shop Maison du Mitha has just opened.

In the same parade Passions has new owners and the double unit vacated by Delightful Designs is currently undergoing a refit ready for its new tenants.

Further down in the main high street, a new children’s shoe shop has opened.

Owner of Maison du Mitha, Sarah Mitha, who worked as an analyst, says Radlett’s success is due to its appeal of offering something different.

She said: “I think the appeal of a place like Radlett is that it is a mixture of lots of smaller independent shops rather than the larger high street chains.

“People like the service and attention they get in these stores and prefer them to a high street brand that looks the same whether you are in Aberdeen or Watford.

“When times are tough, people are also choosing to spend their money on items that stand out rather than something you can pick up anywhere, so they feel they are getting better value for money.”