The survey of over 1,000 UK consumers — commissioned by Sirius — asked about their shopping habits and how frequently they headed to the local high street. 

When asked how often they visit, 32% stated that they rarely head to their high street, while a further 10% don’t visit at all, while 54% admitted they were more likely to make purchases online than their local retail outlets.

A further 21% said the internet was more convenient with 24% claiming they would avoid the high street due to limited parking, while 22% cited a poor variety of shops and another 14% mentioned high prices as a cause of their reluctance to visit.

The main reason for respondents visiting the high street was for supermarkets and groceries (27%), followed by visiting to take advantage of cafes, bars and restaurants (19%).

Another 15% said they visited to make use of services such as hairdressers and nail salons.

A total of 32% visited the local high street for retail purposes, while services and experiences account for the remaining 68%.

When asked what would draw them back to the high street, 21% said more free parking areas would be a significant draw, while 17% said they’d like to see more local and artisan markets and craft stalls.

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More green spaces and gardens were also mentioned (10%), as well as more in-store incentives and experiences (10%).

Other potential pull factors included pop-up shops and temporary exhibitions, outdoor seating and communal areas, and regular events.

Kimberley Gates, head of corporate partnerships at Sirius Property, commented: “We’ve seen a substantial shift in consumer behaviour in recent times and so the decline of the high street is by no means the fault of property developers, nor is it exclusively their responsibility to try and breathe life back into physical, local retail districts — but they certainly have an important role to play in the rejuvenation. 

“When looking to ensure the future good health of the high street, commercial developers can look towards the things that people say they want, [which include] improved infrastructure, attractive outdoor areas and a more diverse range of outlets.

“When the high street was born, it had no direct competition, but with the arrival of shopping centres and online shopping, the high street must now find a way to offer something that the internet cannot.

“This means experiences, community, socialising, pride in the local area, and an understanding that today’s consumers have plenty of options. 

“They need to be given a reason to frequently visit the high street and our commercial developers can play a big part in achieving this.”