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2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring...

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'Renewed optimism' for UK high streets as demand for retail property rises

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Creative News, Outdoor News

Retaihigh streetl Gazette has reported that a rising demand for retail property to be used for leisure and hospitality businesses has given "renewed optimism" for some UK high streets and shopping districts, according to industry experts.

The pressure from lockdown measures saw vacancy rates across shopping destinations hit record highs in the second quarter of 2021, with just over 14% of high street store locations remaining empty during the quarter.

Shopping centres fared even worse, with vacancy levels sitting just under 20%.

Vacancy rates began to level out in the third quarter however, following a surge in interest from firms outside of traditional retail.

The collapse of major brands such as Debenhams and Topshop owner Arcadia at the end of 2020 saw the number of empty sites soar, placing increasing pressure on landlords.

As a result, many property owners have become more flexible and are offering stronger rates in order to attract new brands and businesses.

Chief executive of Retail Economics, Richard Lim, told PA news that potential tenants are "getting the best terms they will have seen for many years".

"You can't help but see renewed optimism when strong retailers are getting plenty of opportunities and landlords are working really hard to ensure their proposition is really relevant," he said.

"There has been a shift in power away from landlords somewhat back towards the retailers and hospitality."

Hugh Knowles, managing director of indoor mini-golf operator Puttshack UK, said the "increased availability" of larger units in attractive locations has also helped the growth of the leisure sector.

"Finding ‘large box' space traditionally hasn't been easy in prior years," he said. "But the increased availability more recently has amplified innovation and as a result we've seen an increase in social entertainment business.

"Customers' expectations will naturally rise, so it's great that retail and leisure can share spaces in well thought out, designed schemes."

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