UK footfall set to rise 47.9% when non-essential retail reopens in April

Footfall across the UK is set to jump +47.9% when non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality reopens in England from 12 April, according to retail experts Springboard.

The announcement comes following the delivery of the government’s highly anticipated roadmap to normality post pandemic, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered to the nation on Monday.

Springboard estimates that high streets will see the largest rise in footfall at +59%, followed by shopping centres at +46% and retail parks at +26%.

The mid-April reopening will also see footfall across all UK retail destinations rise by +128.5% in comparison to the same week in 2020, however it will still be -61% below the 2019 level.

The Springboard data also reveals that at the end of the first two lockdowns, footfall rose in the first week by more than +40%, however greater rises are expected post Lockdown 3 due to the success of the UK vaccination programme.

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 commenced on 4 January, shoppers are likely to feel safer visiting retail destinations.

In addition, there is added confidence that retailers have the appropriate social distancing measures in place from 2020, and shoppers have become more accustomed to wearing face coverings in all public locations.

With social distancing measures set to be eased by 21 June, and a return to near normality, combined with the government’s 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.

Spending is also likely to be boosted in the short term, as many consumers who are in work have disposable income to spend that has not been used for holidays or other spending.

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.

Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, commented: "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.”