Published: Tuesday, 9th March 2021
Sevenoaks has been ranked sixth best retail centre in a list of the top 1000 retail destinations in the UK by Retail Property Advisors Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH).
Sevenoaks has jumped up twenty-four places since the last Vitality List, despite restrictions and lockdowns due to the global pandemic. This is in part because of a shift in shopping habits, meaning consumers are more likely to support local shops and businesses.
The list judges the ‘retail health’ of a town by looking at different features, including the change in residents’ movement, vacancy rates, and suitability to local consumers’ demands. HDH then put together a list of the top 1,000 retail centres in the UK.
Cabinet member for People and Places, Cllr Lesley Dyball, says, “The last year has been extremely difficult for town centre businesses, they have had to adapt very quickly to changing circumstances and learn how to operate differently. Sevenoaks’ independent businesses have stepped up to these challenges, providing new products and services, coupled with a safe place to shop. To be named sixth best retail centre in country is testament to how well our businesses have adjusted and how much residents want to support local retail.”
Cllr Dyball adds, “Despite the huge challenges of the last year we have seen new independent businesses open in Sevenoaks, with more to come. This is an exciting time for Sevenoaks and we are looking forward to all the shops and hospitality venues across our District reopening so our towns can continue thrive.”
The HDH Vitality List was published on 8 February 2021.
To find out more visit www.hdh.co.uk
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