On Tuesday, January 27, the Government announced the first steps towards new national policies which might breathe fresh life into retail areas which have been hit hard by the rise in internet shopping, hikes in operating costs and pressure on consumer spending, particularly in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “If we’re going to restore the pride in our communities, we need our pubs and our high streets to thrive. We’re backing British pubs with additional support, and our new High Streets Strategy will help tackle the long-term challenges that our much-loved retail, leisure and hospitality businesses have faced.
“Thriving local businesses, bustling high streets and pride restored in our communities – that’s what this government is delivering.”
In the wake of the announcement, The Guardian has run a series of special reports on how people’s impression of their local high street is fundamental to their sense of local pride – and growing political anger which could play a big part in the next General Election.
Much of that pride and anger is about feelings, but what do the facts say?
The Guardian also analysed Government and Ordnance Survey data to explore how local high streets all over the country changed between 2019 and 2025.
Though it only offers a snapshot and not the whole story, here is what the data shows bout some of Derbyshire’s biggest population centres.
5. Ripley
A lower proportion of empty shops (2%) compared to the national average (5%), and in several categories of high street business more operators were recorded than the national average. Between 2019 and 2025, the proportion of retail businesses fell from 63% to 59%, while accommodation, food and drink operators rose from 37% to 41% of premises. There was growth in the number of barbershops and hairdressers (up 47%), pubs and bars (63%), cafés (10%), restaurants (100%), and tattoo and piercing studios (100%). On the decline were clothing shops (down 9% on 2019), banks (20%), bookmakers (25%), pharmacies (50%), florists (50%) and department stores (33%). Photo: Brian Eyre
6. Staveley
A higher share of empty shops (13%) compared to the national average (5%), but in several categories of high street business more operators were recorded than the national average. Between 2019 and 2025, the proportion of retail businesses has fell from 50% to 42%, while food and drink operators rose from 50% to 58% of premises. Where the data recorded no pubs or barbers in 2019, it showed one of each in 2025, while a sole clothing shop and chemist had closed. Photo: Brian Eyre
7. Heanor
A lower share of empty shops (4%) compared to the national average (5%), but in several categories of high street business more operators were recorded than the national average. Between 2019 and 2025, the proportion of retailers fell from 61% to 55%, while accommodation, food and drink operators rose from 39% to 45% of all businesses. There was growth in the number of pubs (up 62% since 2019), cafés (23%, restaurants (50%), discount stores (67%) and public toilets (100%). On the decline were barbers and hairdressers (down 2% on 2019), cash machines (down 18%), clothing shops (22%), banks (43%), bookmakers (43%) and tattoo and piercing services (25%). Photo: Google
8. Bolsover
A higher share of empty shops (9%) compared to the national average (5%), but in several categories of business more high street operators were recorded than the national average. Between 2019 and 2025, the proportion of retailers fell from 61% to 52%, while accommodation, food and drink operators rose from 39% to 48% of all businesses. There was growth in the number of barbershops and hairdressers (up 80% since 2019), pubs and bars (25%), restaurants (200%), tattoo and piercing studios (50%), and department stores (50%). On the decline were cash machines (down 33%) and pharmacies (33%). Photo: Brian Eyre