BRC calls for action on business rates as number of physical shops falls 3200 over past four year
05 Oct 2018
New figures published today by the ONS (see below) show that the number of physical shops in the UK has fallen by almost 3,200 over the past four years, down 1.2% to 263,070.
Commenting, Rachel Lund, Head of Insights and Analytics at the British Retail Consortium said:
"Retail is undergoing a transformation driven by changes in shopping habits, new technology, stiff competition and an increasing regulatory burden. Many retailers are responding by refining their business models, investing in technology, improving their logistics capabilities and reducing their store portfolios.
"The continued cumulative burden of public policy costs is accelerating the pace of this change. This data reinforces the need for the Government to demonstrate their commitment to "backing business" and use the upcoming budget to reduce the disproportionate cost of the outdated business rates system."
Estimates of changes in shop numbers
Local Units of retailers, excluding those owned by online only businesses (SIC 47)
| |
2018 |
Change
2017-2018 |
% |
Change
2015-2018 |
% |
| North East |
9,345 |
-55 |
-0.6% |
-200 |
-2.1% |
| North West |
28,740 |
95 |
0.3% |
-75 |
-0.3% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber |
21,660 |
-145 |
-0.7% |
-465 |
-2.1% |
| East Midlands |
17570 |
-100 |
-0.6% |
-355 |
-2.0% |
| West Midlands |
22335 |
-85 |
-0.4% |
-220 |
-1.0% |
| East |
22815 |
-135 |
-0.6% |
-460 |
-2.0% |
| London |
39635 |
35 |
0.1% |
800 |
2.0% |
| South East |
34575 |
-85 |
-0.2% |
-375 |
-1.1% |
| South West |
23530 |
-75 |
-0.3% |
-495 |
-2.1% |
| Wales |
12230 |
-110 |
-0.9% |
-475 |
-3.9% |
| Scotland |
21995 |
-90 |
-0.4% |
-900 |
-4.1% |
| Northern Ireland |
8640 |
60 |
0.7% |
55 |
0.6% |
| UK |
263,070 |
-690 |
-0.3% |
-3,165 |
-1.2% |