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Retailers have called on the Government to overhaul business rates and planning laws to revive high streets and shopping centers after footfall fell again in May.
Shoppers at high street stores, shopping centers and retail parks fell by 3.6% in May, maintaining a trend that began last summer as a mini-boom in high street visits after pandemic lockdowns were lifted.
Malls were the hardest hit, but all three types of retail destinations were down bad weather combined with negative consumer sentiment and a shift to working from home and online shopping to reach visitor numbers.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the trade body British Retail Consortium, which represents most major retailers, said: “With the election just five weeks away, political parties have a role to play by having policies that mean retailers can invest in rejuvenating the UK’s shopping destinations.
“A broken business rates system and outdated planning laws are holding back the industry – politicians of all stripes need to tackle these issues. This will drive economic growth, lift consumer sentiment and help bring more shoppers back to our high streets and other retail destinations.”
Labor promised to replace business rates with a new business property tax system as part of a five-point plan to revitalize high streets, while the Conservatives held several consultations on the issue – but failed to change the system during their time in office.
Retailers are still hoping that improving weather and events such as the Olympics and the European Football Championship will encourage shoppers to hit the streets, Dickinson said.
Diane Werle, town center expert at Rendle Intelligence and Insights, said bad weather would have reduced footfall, but the decline was driven by a “major structural shift” from brick-and-mortar stores, as well as efforts by households to save money due to a surge in the cost of essentials such as food and energy bills.
“Wage inflation is now outpacing price inflation, but there is a lag as it takes time for consumers to react. They had a year of struggles and probably used their savings.
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She added that the shift to working from home has livened up some smaller towns but has led to quieter streets in major cities, especially on Mondays and Fridays. On the plus side, fewer shoppers don’t necessarily mean less money spent in stores, as people browse less and those who visit downtown are more likely to spend.
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