Town centre is ‘top of the shops’
A DETAILED survey on retail performance puts Hinckley in the top 5 per cent of shopping centres in the UK.
The report from data specialists CACI also indicated the town had the 11th largest ‘retail footprint centre’ in the East Midlands.
Commissioned by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council the study took in all factors which affect trading including quality and quantity of store provision, centre function and level of competition.
Face-to-face research was undertaken while credit and debit card use was obtained from a leading bank.
All pointed to Hinckley having a strong local customer base with residents readily and regularly turning to the town centre for purchases and pleasure, rather than going elsewhere.
Even the close proximity of cities such as Leicester and Coventry was not able to prevent Hinckley keeping the dominant market share of its core catchment population.
Current performance is expected to be even higher as the survey was taken in 2015, during early development of The Crescent.
The launch of the £60 million open air shopping and leisure mall has been linked with the upward trend in the town’s retail fortunes.
In an agenda item dis- cussed by councillors on the borough’s scrutiny committee, footfall figures from counters around the town centre has shown The Crescent to be a success.
The officer’s report said: “Footfall counters within Hinckley town centre demonstrate that The Crescent has boosted activity within the town, especially when you consider the evening economy and the entertainment aspect of the town centre.
“Since The Crescent opened footfall in the early evening for the town centre rose by 19.5% from 2015 to 2016 and the late evening economy rose by 20% during the same period.
“This compares to a national average drop in footfall of 1% from 2015 to 2016.”
A member of the scrutiny committee, Lib Dem borough councillor David Bill (Clarendon), said everyone had welcomed the news and applauded the good work so far in delivering a thriving commercial hub.
He added: “Although it took far too long to be brought about the vibrant new shopping, leisure and restaurant area known as The Crescent has proved to be a real success story which is evident from the life and vibrancy of the area as well as it high ranking in the retail statistics.
“We have certainly made good use of the shops, cinema and the wide range of restaurants all of which provide excellent services.”