NORTHALLERTON High Street is becoming a victim of its own success, as demand for premises is pushing up rents and forcing independent traders out, it has been claimed.

Independent firms who rent their premises in the county town's prime retail area say while rent and business rates had long been higher than in neighbouring towns, rises were making trading in the High Street increasingly challenging.

Darren Syddall said he would close his home accessories and gifts store Origins later this month, making two staff redundant, and relocate to Darlington after his landlord asked for a 50 per cent rise in rent for the 720sq ft premises, from £24,000 to £36,000 annually.

The businessman said while he had strong festive sales and a loyal customer base, independent firms that don't own their premises were being squeezed out of the High Street and that firms also faced business rates hikes, as it reflected 47.9 per cent of rental value.

Mr Syddall said: "After the introduction of High Street parking charges it was horrendous, like somebody had switched off the tap, but the rent I was facing would have been four times what I am paying per square foot in Darlington.

"While the chains have bigger margins, nobody is giving a chance to smaller independents, so there is going to be nothing to make this town different to anywhere else."

Jackie Geddes, managing director of CC Outdoors, said the effects of on-street parking charges and increasing costs of running her High Street shop had led to her closing it and focusing on an outlet in Kirkby Stephen last year.

She said: "The smaller villages are definitely going to benefit because you don't have the high rates and rents."

Michael Blake, of Stanton Mortimer property consultants, said rents were rising in the market town and there was a high demand for shop premises, indicated by the few empty premises.

He said: "Rents have held up well in Northallerton and are higher than you would expect for a market town of that population.

"Northallerton is doing better than many in terms of performance as it has a wealthy hinterland and not a lot of competition in the nearby area."

Following a district-wide economic survey, Hambleton District Council is set to consult with traders on how it can better support them.

Councillor Peter Wilkinson, the authority's economic development boss, said he wanted to help protect the independent retailers as their presence was vital in attracting shoppers.