Retail expert Springboard reveals that footfall across the UK is set to rise by up to +47.9% when non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality reopens in England from 12 April. The reopening will see a +128.5% rise in footfall in comparison to the same week in 2020. However, it will remain -61.8% below the 2019 level. This announcement comes following the recent delivery of the Government’s roadmap to normality post-pandemic.

High streets and shopping centres will see the largest rises in footfall of +59% and +46% respectively.

Retail parks, meanwhile, will see a growth of +26%. Following lockdown 1, high streets saw an increase of +46.6%. However, Springboard indicates that they are likely to be more attractive to visitors in the week of reopening post lockdown 3; both non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality will open on the same date of 12 April and therefore it is high streets that cater for both opportunities.

Previous data from Springboard has demonstrated that the longer consumers are subject to restrictions, the greater the desire for freedom. After 14 weeks since lockdown 3 began on the 4 January, shoppers are likely to feel safer visiting retail destinations. This is partly due to the success of the UK vaccination programme. With over 60 million individuals now vaccinated, many will be more at ease to get out to retail destinations.

Plus, there is additional confidence that retailers have the appropriate social distancing measures in place from 2020; shoppers are also now more accustomed to wearing face coverings in all public locations.

With social distancing measures due to ease by 21 June with a return to near normality, and a government target to have all adults vaccinated with a first dose by 31 July, this will no doubt support footfall across all areas of the UK. As Brits take advantage of staycations, coastal towns are forecast a boost in footfall over summer. Regional cities can hope to see footfall rise too, with the eventual return of office workers later in the year.

There is also likely to be a boost in spending in the short term. This is mainly due to consumers who are in employment having disposable income to spend; money they would usually have spent on on holidays, for instance.

In what has been a challenging year for retailers both large and small, the retail industry is likely to bounce back in the second half of 2021 as consumers rediscover their love for bricks and mortar stores after many months of online shopping.

Commenting is Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard. “As we approach the 12-month mark since the start of the pandemic in the UK, lockdown fatigue is at its height and the increases in footfall over the last five weeks have indicated the pent-up demand for a return to normality.

“We know from when non-essential retail reopened at the end of lockdowns 1 in June, and 2 in December, that footfall will rise sharply and we anticipate this will be more prominent than ever before with a rise of up to +47.9%.

“By mid-April, consumers will be looking for sensory and social retail experiences; reconnecting with their favourite brands and purchasing new wardrobes for a summer of social events. We are anticipating a strong initial uplift in April that will continue to rise over the summer months as the economy reopens in the UK.”

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