Half of non-essential shops not opening despite easing of restrictions  

Almost half of the retail shops eligible to open were refraining from start trading, reveals a new report.

Research agency Local Data Company said the field survey conducted by it has found that just 52 per cent of the eligible shops were trading at the time of survey.

The retail location data firm surveyed over 111,000 retail units in 164 towns and cities across the country between 23 May and 1 July .

Food and beverage takeaway categories were some of the least impacted, as 93 per cent of fish & chip and Indian food shops and 91 per cent of pizza takeaway units were able to reopen successfully.

Travel agents include among the most affected with only 40 per cent reopening.

East Midlands had the lowest reopening rate across England at just 43 per cent, closely followed by Greater London area where only 44 per cent of shops reopened.

“Based on this initial Local Data Company research, an increase in empty shops across many high streets is likely as businesses struggle to weather the pandemic,” commented Lucy Stainton, head of retail and strategic partnerships at the Local Data Company.

“Despite having the opportunity to trade, many businesses have chosen not to as yet, especially in London where footfall is taking much longer to return and opening stores becomes economically unviable.

“A mixture of low footfall, strict guidelines around social distancing and facemasks being mandatory in shops from later on this month creates the most challenging environment in recent history for our retailers.”