Retailers are flocking to fill empty properties in Coulsdon following a multimillion pound makeover of the town centre - but businesses fear attracting shoppers has not proved so simple.

The proportion of empty retail units in the town centre has fallen from 15 per cent to 6 per cent over the last 12 months, following the completion of a £3.7m redevelopment scheme.

But Amanda Davis, the chairman of Coulsdon Business Partnership, said actual trade had not seen a similar boost.

She said: “To be honest it looks lovely, it looks gorgeous with the big pavements and the cobbles and everything.

“But with regards to business there’s not enough footfall in Coulsdon to appreciate it.

“Parking may play a little part of it, it could be the times that we are in - people haven’t got much money to spend.

“It could be that there aren’t enough types of different shops down here.

“But whatever is causing it, we have got these nice wide pavements now and there’s no one walking on them.”

The regeneration was initially launched in 2006 by Transport for London(TfL) in an attempt to restore the town’s character, increase activity on the street and boost local trade.

TfL deputy chairman Daniel Moylan said the fact vacant properties were filling up showed the works were having an impact.

He said: “It shows shopkeepers think it’s worth moving in and paying rent because there are going to be customers.

“It takes time to try to regenerate what was in effect an urban motorway.

“Do you expect that to happen straight after the bulldozers go away and the last slabs are laid? No.

“But the place is coming to life and is expected to get more lively.”

Mr Moylan added businesses could club together to market themselves better in an attempt to get more people shopping in Coulsdon.

He said: “I’m not talking about big investment, but things like getting a poster up on the station or bus stop.

“This really is part of a significant investment to create and enhance town centres and make London more beautiful.

“We don’t claim to get everything in this right, but so far I think it’s working well and I think that shops are coming back.”