TEMPORARY “pop-up” shops are likely to take over some of the scores of empty shops in Southampton , according to a new council report.

Most familiar from the discount traders that take over vacant shops at Christmas, pictured below, the phenomenon is now being viewed as a way to counter a succession of big-name high street shut-downs.

Recent casualties have included Zavvi, Priceless, Barratts, The Entertainer, Cargo Homeshop and flatpack furniture retailer MFI.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, numbers of vacant shops in Southampton have doubled over the past year. In January, the total of empty shops stood at 100, up from 50 in January 2008.

And city bosses fear the total is set to swell further.

In a report from Tim Levenson, head of city development, the board of strategic planning group Southampton Partnership were told: “It is anticipated that a further supply of retail units will come on to the market as confidence in the sector remains generally weak and some retailers have over-expanded on the back of cheap money.

However, locally footfall remains strong.

“Evidence from agents suggests that there is currently little demand apart from seasonal – eg Christmas.”

The situation is complicated by new tax laws which mean landlords are still liable for business rates on many empty shops, forcing them to slash prices to secure an occupier who can pay the bill instead.

As a result, temporary shops are thought likely to mushroom on Southampton’s shopping streets.

Mr Levenson said: “A number of options have been considered including the concept of pop-up shops, which are a relatively new phenomenon.

Traditionally, temporary shops have been known for their pile-it high, sell it cheap operators.

Temporary shopping space is now being used by big brands for one-off promotions, boutiques selling luxury or unusual goods, fashion designers, cafes and restaurants will pop up for a week a month or longer.”

He also proposes using empty shop fronts to promote local events, hold one-off promotions and showcase local produce or as affordable spaces for entrepreneurs to roadtest their business ideas.

Local traders have reservations about more temporary shops.

Rashmi Chande of the East Street Traders Association said: “A lot of this stuff is of dubious quality and of dubious origin. The legitimate traders are going to be penalised and so I think it is not a welcome trend.”