Data reveals the 20 UK cities with declining high streets

As we fast approach the festive season, Asktraders conducted an analysis of the UK High Street, looking at ATM, bank branches, retail store closures and ONS % growth of the retail sector over the course of 2019

The research reveals the top 20 cities with the best high street in terms of retail growth and less store and ATM closures compared to the top 20 cities with the biggest declining high street.

Top stats include:

• Over 6,000 ATM’s have closed between January 2018 and August 2019, that’s a staggering 300 per month.
• Over 1,100 bank branches have been closed in the UK since  2018. RBS, Barclays and Natwest are amongst the worst hit.
• Over 1,200 high street stores have closed during the first half of 2019 with over 5,000 in the past 12 months in the UK, that’s nearly 416 per month.
• Peterborough, Cambridgeshire has the most thriving high-street in the UK with 1% retail growth, 30 new ATM’s opening over the past 12 months.
• Poole, Dorset is the most declining high street with an overall -4% retail growth in 2019,  2 bank branches closures and an estimated 48 stores closing in the past two years*.
• This is closely followed by Blackpool, Lancashire (-2% retail growth) and Warrington, Chesire (-4%).

More info below:

Poole revealed to have the most declining high-street in the UK!

According to the data which is compiled of ATM, bank branch, store closures and retail % growth, Poole in Dorset has the most declining high-street in the UK.

The seaside town had -%4 retail growth in 2019. Comparing this to the national data over 6,000 ATM’s have closed between January 2018 and August 2019 an average 12% reduction. That’s a staggering 300 per month.

Over 1,100 bank branches have been closed in the UK since January 2018. RBS, Barclays and Natwest are amongst the worst hit.

Table 1. Shows the top 20 cities and towns in the UK with the most declining high-streets

Chart 1. Shows the top 20 cities and towns in the UK with the most declining high street

Peterborough revealed as the top city for retail growth on the high street!

According to the data, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire has the highest growing high-street in the UK.

Between June and August 2019, LINK ATM growth was up by 0.62% and since 2015 only 11% of bank branches in the town have closed down. In terms of retail enterprise growth, there was a 1% increase in the number of the retail store opens in the area, although this might not sound a lot with the current state of the high street, this is a vast improvement.

Table 2. Shows the top 20 cities and towns in the UK with the biggest high street growth 

Chart 2. Shows the top 20 cities and towns in the UK with the highest growing high streets

Steve Miley, Senior Market Analyst at AskTraders, said:

“The UK high street has been weathering tough trading conditions with many UK retailers dropping by the wayside. Traditional retail store closures are on the up as businesses grapple with a weak consumer in the face of Brexit uncertainty, the unabated rise of e-commerce, higher costs and changing tastes.”

He continues: “There are, inevitably, going to be winners and losers. High street retailers with inflexible business models that have failed to adapt to their changing environment are and will be the most noticeable casualties. Big names have just vanished from our high street and there will certainly be more to come.

The challenges that the High street is facing aren’t going anywhere fast. This will be a case of survival of the fittest. Those retailers that can evolve whilst still giving their customers exactly what they want could have a lot to gain.”