Town centre businesses among region’s worst affected by Covid

This is according to Cities Outlook 2022, an annual economic assessment of the UK’s largest urban areas compiled by research and policy institute Centre for Cities.

Warrington is among the worst affected in the north west, ranking eight in the region and 61st in the nation.

Across the north west, Manchester city centre is worst affected, losing 41 weeks of sales between the first lockdown and Omicron’s onset.

Businesses in the centre of Wigan and Preston are also among the worst hit in the region.

Nationally, Covid-19 has cost businesses in city and large town centres more than a third (35 per cent) of their potential takings since March 2020, with central London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Cardiff worst affected.

Across the 52 city and town centres studied, 2,426 commercial units have become vacant during the pandemic, against 1,374 between 2018 and 2020.

High streets in economically weaker places have been less impacted by Covid-19, while in economically stronger places, business closures increased during the pandemic.

This suggests that the Government’s Covid-19 support successfully stalled the decline of many struggling high streets, according to Centre for Cities, but was less effective in economically stronger places due to higher rents and a lack of custom from office workers.

That said, while stronger city centres have borne the economic brunt of the pandemic, their higher levels of affluence mean that if restrictions end and office workers return, they will likely recover quickly, it added.

In mid-November, it was reported that footfall in Warrington town centre was close to pre-pandemic levels, after lockdown restrictions were eased but prior to plan B measures in response to the Omicron variant.

Covid impact on town centre business among worst in the north west, report says

This was according to Stephen Fitzsimons, chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce – a not-for-profit organisation which supports and represents business in the town.

He said: “Warrington is almost back to a level of visitors not seen since 2019, with traffic reported at 92.5 per cent of normal and town centre footfall of 90 per cent.

“This has given confidence to several new hospitality start-ups, in a welcome boost for Bridge Street following several years of steady decline.

“Much of this can be attributed to the catalytic effect of Time Square, with surrounding venues eagerly anticipating the arrival of council staff and University of Chester students.

“In Golden Square, units such as Patisserie Valerie and Prezzo have found new tenants, as the Old Fish Market freshens up its offer to returning patronage.

“However, peripheral retailers are not all enjoying a post pandemic boost, so it is vital that new visitors are targeted, with prestige events such as the Makers Market and Tour of Britain helping to elevate the town to another level.”

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “While the pandemic has been a tough time for all high streets, it has levelled down more prosperous cities and towns.

“Despite this, the strength of their wider local economies means they are well placed to recover quickly from the past two years.

“The bigger concern is for economically weaker places – primarily in the north and midlands – where Covid-19 has actually paused their long-term decline.

“To help them avoid a wave of high street closures this year, the Government must set out how it plans to increase peoples’ skills and pay to give them the income needed to sustain a thriving high street.

“Many of these places are in the so-called ‘red wall’, so there is a political imperative for the Government to act fast, as well as an economic one.”