A video shared on social media has highlighted the sheer number of empty units in Erith town centre, particularly at a shopping centre which has rumours of being demolished in the near future.

The video, which Bexleyresident49 posted on TikTok, shows the person recording taking a stroll through the town centre, particularly the Riverside Shopping Centre where many of the units have “To Let” signs on them.

The video is captioned “Come with me and shop at Erith Town Centre in Bexley. There are plenty of shops and you get three hours of free parking.”

The video appears to point out that there are three hours of free parking for the area, but not masses to do or see despite the appealing parking offer.

Commenters reminisce about when this used to be a bustling area with plenty of options for shopping.

One says: “Sad this. The town centre used to be booming when I was a kid I remember the market in the car park and always getting a jacket potato."

@bexleyresident49 #praisejahinthemoonlight #shopping #fyp #4u #xybca #bexleyheath #gentrification ♬ Praise Jah In The Moonlight - YG Marley

The Riverside Shopping Centre is fully owned by BYM Erith Limited and managed by GCL Ltd.

The Local Democracy Reporting service previously reported that the Riverside Shopping Centre could be knocked down in the next five to ten years, according to plans found on the Bexley Council website back in June.

This was discovered in planning documents from Se & Se Consultancy Ltd, on behalf of ICMG Bexley.

The planning application sought to convert a unit in the shopping centre into a set of five classrooms.

Planning documents said: “It was mentioned that the owners of the shopping mall are considering demolishing the mall within the next five to ten years and replacing it with a new development.

"As a result, there is a significant number of unoccupied shops.

“ICMG Bexley plans to make use of this opportunity by renting space at below-market value for temporary use.”

The applicant described the arrangement as being “mutually beneficial”.

We have approached BYM Erith Limited and managed by GCL Ltd for more information about the shopping centre's future.