J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has proven the resilience of Perth's
retail property market in the face of the global credit crunch by leasing
a pair of shop units within the town centre at their asking rents to two
new tenants within a matter of weeks.

The first property, located at the southern end of St John Street between
its junctions with South Street and St Johns Place, has been let to Nature
House at an average rent of £13,500. The second property, at 51-53 South
Street, has been let to Caledonian Mortgages on a sub lease.

Jonathan Reid, associate at J & E Shepherd's Perth office, said, "The
level of interest shown in both these properties stands as testament to
Perth's attractiveness as a retail destination. And the alacrity with
which both deals were concluded suggests that Perth has all the attributes
that retailers demand of a vibrant town centre location."

St John Street is a popular pedestrianised retailing location in the
centre of Perth and includes prominent retailers such as McEwans,
Lakeland, Austin Reed, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and a number of other local
and multiple retailers.

At 35 St John Street, the Nature House unit is located directly opposite
the main entrance to the McEwans of Perth department store. A single
fronted ground floor and basement retail unit contained within a mid
terraced three storey and basement building, the gross floor area of the
property extends to 636 sq ft.

Meanwhile the property at 51-53 South Street, which has an excellent
window frontage to South Street, comprises a substantial retail unit,
planned over ground and basement floors
contained within a listed three storey and basement terraced tenement and
has a gross internal floor area of 1449 sq ft.