According to a new study, hairdressers and takeaway restaurant have replaced clothing shops and banks in England and Wales.
Public First, a policy research agency, argues in a report that online banking and ecommerce have led to ‘experience-based’ leisure in city and town centres.
“We may not be doing as much shopping on the high street but we still go there to have our nails done and get a hair cut. . . “Things are filling in the void”, said Scott Corfe. Director of data and modeling at Public First.
In major cities and towns, the number of hairdressers and beauty parlors (which includes nail bars) has more than doubled since 2010. Over the last 13 years, nearly 2.5 new beauty or hair salons opened each day.
Local Data Company, a recent analysis by Local Data Company, noted that barbershops grew strongly in 2022-2023 and beauty salons declined.
Opinion polling shows that shoppers are aware of the increase in nail bars, and specifically. According to Public First’s survey, 34% of respondents said they felt there were too many manicurers on their high street.
Takeaways have also seen a rise, especially in the North of England. Manchester has an average of 11,2 takeaways for every 10,000 residents, while London only has 7.2.
Corfe said that there is a distinct north-south split in terms of the number of takeaways per person.
The largest increase in outlets in the last 15 years has been the number of road freight and warehouse businesses that serve ecommerce. Data based on Office for National Statistics statistics does not differentiate between high-street and non-high-street business locations.
In recent years, the closure of several major high-street retailers such as Wilko, Debenhams, and Poundworld has been seen as an indication of the UK economy’s decline.
Corfe also noted that online shopping has reduced the value of high street stores as an indicator of growth. “High streets may be declining, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the economy is weak.”
In early this year, the Labour Party announced that if it were elected, they would improve British high streets, including by implementing measures to combat antisocial behavior and building “banking centers”.
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