Fewer shoppers on Britain's high streets as retail parks report highest footfall yet

As the UK's high streets and shopping centers continue to suffer a lack of footfall, retail parks around the country have reported their largest increase in footfall in over a year last month.

Although overall footfall for all three categories declined 1.1 percent year-on-year, out of town retail parks enjoyed a 3.1 percent increase in visitor footfall, the highest figure since May 2014, according to the latest data from the BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor. Shopping centers saw footfall drop 2.5 percent last month, with high streets not far behind with a dip of 2.2 percent. The only region to report positive footfall growth was Greater London, with a 0.4 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

The national town centre vacancy rate also saw a record low last month, at 9.8 percent, down from the the 10.2 percent rate reported in April, 2015. "The continued popularity of retail parks will cheer retailers who have invested in these locations – a footfall increase of 3.1 per cent is the highest we’ve seen since May 2014," commented Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium Director General. "The fall in shop vacancy rates to below 10 per cent for the first time since this monitor began will also be welcomed, albeit cautiously."

"For years, structural changes within retail have been challenging the role of the ‘traditional’ high street. Many high streets up and down the country have been working to meet these challenges by reshaping themselves (in some cases becoming smaller) and working hard to establish their own unique offer as well integrating it with a digital presence. The clear note of caution though can be found in the footfall figures. No matter how successful high streets are in re-inventing themselves, if they can’t deliver increased footfall we could easily see vacancy rates climbing again. It’s worth noting that the footfall decline has slowed this month, but it still has a way to go."