Town centre footfall plummets by a third

The report which will be shown to Ipswich Borough Council says the number of vacant units has been affected by changes in buying habits, the pandemic and macro-economic issues

Footfall in a town centre has plummeted by a third in the past year, figures have revealed.

A report shows the amount of people visiting Ipswich in Suffolk this year was 679,077 - down from 949,995 visitors in 2023.

On the high street, the number of vacant shop units has reached almost 100, an increase from 63 in the last quarter of the 2022/23 financial year.

A report will be presented to members of the Ipswich Borough Council strategic overview and scrutiny committee by the labour leader of the authority, Neil McDonald, on Thursday.

It will be used to highlight the council's performance against some of its targets.

In recent years, Ipswich has lost big-name retailers including BHS, Debenhams and Wilko.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the amount of visitors recorded over the past year was 679,077 - a decrease of 30%

The report said the rising number of vacant units on the high street was a common UK trend, adding: "A change in buying habits, the impact of the pandemic and macro-economic issues mean that town centres need to move away from a reliance on retail and diversify the mix of uses on the high street.

"The council, through the Towns Fund and by working with partners, is working to bring more leisure, cultural, learning and residential uses to the town centre, which will reduce the number of vacant units."

Empty properties have meant a £55,517 loss in business rates, with the report stating buildings including the former crown court in Civic Drive - and St Peters House in Grimwade Street - made up for the majority of the losses.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the loss caused by empty properties was almost £15,000 more than the previous financial year.

While the amount of places to eat and drink had stayed the same or increased, the amount of visitors recorded over the year was 679,077, the LDRS said.

However, the authority had met goals and objectives in other areas, including supporting the amount of young people aged 16 to 24 into education, training and employment.

It also saw an increase in the average weekly wage, with workers receiving £642, compared to £593.30 in the 2022/23 financial year.