Worrying trend as UK footfall figures show continual slide
Data highlights footfall decline for high streets around country
Concerns have been expressed over the future of the UK high street with a new report highlighting a significant drop in footfall across town centres nationwide.
The latest monthly report tracking visitor behaviour in the UK by footfall data specialists Place Informatics gives a detailed insight into how visitors to town centres have continued to decline in the first two months of 2024 following a 6-month decline in the second half of 2023.
The results highlight that town centres have seen fewer visitors in January and February of 2024 compared to the same months in 2023.
The data shows a worrying trend for town centres with footfall dropping across every region in 2024 while certain regions saw an even steeper decline.
The South-West witnessed the largest decline of 6.64 per cent, followed by the South-West and East Anglia with a decline of 4.78 per cent, East Midlands at 3.33 per cent and the NorthEast seeing a reduction in visitors of 3.31 per cent.
This trend follows a decline of 4.66 per cent in the second half of 2023 which is now an 8-month continual decline in visitors across the UK of 1.43 per cent. Industry experts say the reduction in visitors to town centres that has been seen across the UK due to multiple factors including bad weather and economic impacts such as the cost-ofliving crisis.”
Clive Hall, CEO of Place Informatics, expressed concern over the findings, emphasising the need for local councils and businesses to take proactive measures to reverse the trend.
He said: “Our visitor behaviour data report shows some concerning trends across the UK. While 2023 started positively with a significant increase in footfall across UK town centres, this was followed by a sharp decline towards the end of the year and this has continued into the first two months of 2024. The results are worrying, especially for certain regions of the UK and local councils and businesses need to understand what caused this decline and how they can ensure this doesn’t continue in 2024.
“Our data can help retailers, hospitality, councils and many other businesses and services understand how visitors are behaving, where visitors come from and most importantly what services they are utilising on their visit, including green spaces, car parks and public realms.”
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), highlighted the significant decline of footfall witnessed in London and the South of England compared with less severe declines elsewhere in the country.
Ms Dickinson said there were various factors at play which were having an effect on the number of people visiting high streets up and down the country.
She said: “Footfall experienced its biggest fall since the pandemic. One of the wettest Februarys on record, exacerbated by train strikes at the start of the month, meant shoppers visited fewer stores, with high streets most affected.”