Business & Technology
Parcelhero says High Street closures beat 2030 forecast
Parcelhero has published a new report revisiting its earlier forecast for the future of the UK High Street. It says store closures have already exceeded the level it projected for 2030.
The delivery and retail research firm estimates that 122,682 physical stores have closed since 2016, compared with its earlier forecast that 100,000 would shut between 2016 and 2030.
The new report revisits warnings made in Parcelhero’s 2016 study, which argued that the rise of eCommerce would reshape town centres and wipe out large parts of traditional retail. That earlier work, discussed in Parliament, focused on the likely decline of department stores, fashion chains, bank branches and newsagents.
David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research at Parcelhero and lead author of both reports, said the latest findings suggest the direction of travel has not changed, even if some parts of the High Street have proved more resilient than expected.
“When we released our first study, 2030 seemed a long way off. With just four years remaining, now is the ideal time to see whether our town centres continue to wither on the vine or whether there are green shoots we didn’t foresee 10 years ago.
At first glance, I’m afraid our new report, ‘2030: The High Street Fights Back?’, is far from encouraging reading. That question mark in the title is there for a reason. The first report forecast 100,000 store closures by 2030. As our new report reveals, in some ways the situation is even worse than we feared. Since 2016, an estimated 122,682 physical stores have already closed.”
Big names gone
The report lists a long line of brands that have disappeared from town centres, entered administration or sharply reduced their store estates over the past decade. Among those named are Jaeger, Toys R’ Us, Maplin, Mothercare, Thomas Cook, Debenhams, Beales, Laura Ashley, Harveys Furniture, McColl’s, Paperchase, Homebase, Ted Baker, Oddbins and Lloyds Pharmacy.
It also points to more recent pressure on chains including Claire’s, The Original Factory Shop, Russell & Bromley and Quiz.
Department stores are presented as one of the clearest examples of structural decline. House of Fraser’s store count has fallen from 59 to 23 since Sports Direct bought the business after it entered administration, while Debenhams’ 165 department stores had all closed by mid-2021 following liquidation. Beales, which had 23 stores in 2019, no longer has any.
According to the report, more than 83% of UK department store space has disappeared since 2016.
Fashion retail has also suffered heavy losses. Arcadia Group alone closed more than 200 stores, while household names including LK Bennett, Karen Millen, Jack Wills, Cath Kidston, Oasis, Warehouse, TM Lewin, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons have all entered administration or closed large parts of their estates.
Branches and bookshops
The latest study also tracks the retreat of other traditional High Street staples. Around 6,660 bank branches closed between 2016 and 2025, adding to the long-term decline in branch banking as customers moved online.
Newsagents and stationery retailers have also shrunk. WHSmith sold its High Street stores to Modella Capital, where they were rebranded as TGJones, while Paperchase and McColl’s have vanished from many town centres.
Not every prediction from a decade ago has been borne out. Jinks said bookshops have held up better than expected, with 1,052 independent bookshops still trading despite pressure on physical retail.
“Our new report goes on to feature many other categories where our original predictions were all too true. However, our crystal ball was not infallible. In ‘The Death of the High Street’, we predicted that bookshops were nearing their final chapter. We said, ‘The traditional High Street book store industry is collapsing at 2.3% a year, with just 1,071 retail businesses remaining.’ While there has been a decline, the current number of independent bookshops alone still stands at 1,052. Bookshops have turned over a new leaf.”
Online shift
The report argues that the broad shift to online shopping remains a central force behind changes on the High Street, even though the pandemic-era surge did not continue at the same pace.
Online spending accounted for 14.2% of all retail spending in mid-2016, according to Parcelhero. It peaked at 35.6% in February 2021 during the pandemic before easing back to around 28% of the market. In February 2026, online sales represented 28.2% of total retail spend, the report says.
That leaves open the question of whether Parcelhero’s earlier prediction that online would account for 40% of retail spending by 2030 will be reached.
The report says the pandemic created a short-lived boom that also exposed weaknesses among online-first retailers. It cites setbacks at Ocado, Asos and Boohoo, and notes the disappearance of rapid grocery delivery firms Jiffy, Gorillas and Getir. Missguided also entered administration after expanding too far.
Signs of life
Even so, the report identifies pockets of growth in physical retail. Convenience stores were the fastest-growing category in 2024 as major supermarket groups opened more smaller outlets. Coffee shops and cake shops also recorded net openings.
Jinks said the overall closure figure does not amount to a net loss on the same scale, because retail churn means some openings replace closures. But he added that closures still outnumber openings in important sectors and continue to threaten weaker shopping areas.
“Don’t run away with the idea that eCommerce is on its way out and the High Street will return to its former glory, however. Our latest report reveals that online sales have fallen back since 2021, but they remain significantly higher than in 2016, at around 28% of the entire market. In February 2026, online held 28.2% of total retail spend, for example. The jury is still out on our predicted eCommerce share of 40% by 2030.
So have online’s growing pains been the High Street’s gain? Well, as our new report’s title, ‘2030: The High Street Fights Back?’, hints, there have been some encouraging signs. In 2024, the fastest-growing category was convenience stores, as large supermarket chains accelerated growth in this expanding market by opening increasing numbers of smaller stores. Likewise, coffee shops saw more than one net opening per week, and cake shops also grew in number. So at least part of our High Street looks set to enjoy a sweet future.
While we have lost 122,682 physical stores between 2017 and the end of 2025, that is not a net loss. That number is harder to determine, but it will be lower, as some churn is natural. Even so, as our report highlights, many more shops have closed than opened, especially in key sectors such as department stores. This still threatens the survival of some High Streets and shopping arcades. The High Street may not have reached a dead end by 2030 but, in this new age of retail, it will have arrived at its biggest crossroads.”
Residents living in the north Oxfordshire town voiced their woes on the social media community group ‘Bicester General Chat’.
While there was praise for some ‘great’ local Royal Mail posties, others weren’t so happy with the ‘useless’ service they were receiving.
The general consensus is that while post, including letters and parcels, are being delivered, residents receive them later than expected and/or all in one go.
Complaints were raised about post being delivered damaged, being ‘lost’ and others missing important hospital appointments.
Some said despite making complaints and escalating further, they do not receive an update.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We know how important it is for people to receive their post reliably, especially when it contains personal, financial or medical information.
“We take concerns about delays seriously and any customer experiencing a specific issue with their mail should contact our customer services team so it can be looked into.
READ MORE:
Driver left shaken and out of pocket after hitting pothole on busy A-road
Major Oxfordshire developments in doubt as Government designates council
Hollywood A-lister trusts Oxfordshire firm to electrify rare fleet for show
“Improving quality of service is our top priority. Nationally, around 92 per cent of letters are currently arriving on time and over 99 per cent within a week, but we know there is more to do to deliver the reliable service customers expect.
“That is why we are making changes through our new delivery model, backed by our improvement plan, to improve reliability for customers across the UK.”
A target of 93 per cent is set for the postal company to deliver first class mail to be received within one working day.
But in Oxfordshire, the Royal Mail is hitting just 67.2 per cent, Liberal Democrat Witney MP Charlie Maynard revealed earlier this year.
This is below the Royal Mail’s claim of delivering 76.3 per cent of first class mail within one day across the UK for the year to March 2025.
Mr Maynard said that in his Witney constituency, people are even missing medical appointments because of late postal deliveries.
In May, services in Bicester (OX25 – OX27) saw delays “temporarily” due to sick absence, resourcing or other “local factors”, the Royal Mail said.
A spokesman said at the time: “In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.
“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.”
Last year, the Royal Mail was taken over by International Distribution Services by Czech billionaire businessman Daniel Kretinsky’s IP Group in a £3.6 billion deal.
SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO
News Editor
Sound Devices has introduced the Astral Mini Plus wireless transmitter pack as part of its Astral Wireless range.
Aimed at touring, live theatre and fixed-installation work, the device keeps the compact form factor of earlier Astral transmitters while adding longer battery life, a wider tuning range and water resistance.
Astral Mini Plus offers more than eight hours of battery life and a tuning range of 169-1525 MHz. It also carries an IP67 water-resistance rating, meaning it is designed to withstand dust and temporary immersion.
Alongside the hardware launch, Sound Devices has updated the broader Astral Wireless line with V8.30 firmware. The update adds SoundBase integration to AstralComm and introduces routing changes across the range.
According to Sound Devices, the SoundBase link is intended to give audio engineers a more direct way to monitor and adjust wireless devices during RF coordination. Functions include changing frequencies, renaming transmitters and keeping key operating information visible.
Broader range
The release expands a portfolio that Sound Devices markets to sound professionals working in film, television, live events, houses of worship and education. The company designs, assembles and supports its products from its headquarters in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and offices in Madison, Wisconsin, and Rickmansworth, UK.
The new transmitter arrives as wireless audio suppliers continue to adapt products to shifting spectrum conditions and varied venue requirements. In that context, tuning flexibility and software control have become more prominent selling points for manufacturers serving touring crews, theatre operators and systems integrators.
Sound Devices said the new model was designed to improve usability and shorten setup times. It said the updated firmware is intended to simplify operation across the Astral range by giving engineers more flexible routing options.
Matt Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at Sound Devices, commented on the launch and the software update.
“Astral Wireless is the most full-featured wireless toolkit on the market, designed to meet the ever-changing needs of a rapidly evolving RF landscape,” said Matt Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at Sound Devices.
“The launch of Astral Mini Plus, along with continued firmware development and deeper software integrations, reflects our commitment to this constant evolution and our desire to provide high-quality solutions that reflect the day-to-day realities of the most demanding RF professionals,” Anderson said.
The launch reflects a wider trend in professional audio towards combining hardware improvements with deeper software integration.
As productions become more complex and spectrum management challenges increase, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on tools that simplify wireless coordination and device monitoring. The addition of SoundBase integration is expected to appeal to engineers managing large-scale deployments where visibility and control are critical. Extended battery life and expanded tuning capabilities may also help reduce operational interruptions in demanding live and broadcast environments.
With the latest hardware and firmware updates, Sound Devices is continuing to position Astral Wireless as a comprehensive platform for professional RF applications.
Louisiana-born chicken brand Raising Cane’s is setting up shop on Coventry Street in the heart of London, between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
Although no official opening date has been announced, branded hoardings have now appeared at the site, signalling that the long-awaited launch is edging closer.
The chain, loved by celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Post Malone and Halle Berry, opened its first store in 1996, and as it approaches 30 years in business, is coming to the UK for the first time.
US fast food chain Raising Cane’s set to open its first UK restaurant
The chain has already developed a UK-focused menu featuring both take-out and dine-in meal options, as well as customisable chicken finger combos.
Unlike many competitors, Raising Cane’s keeps its menu simple, offering chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and its signature Cane’s Sauce.
The sauce, described by fans as “next level,” is a particular point of excitement among British diners, who have shared their enthusiasm online.
One food lover wrote: “Omg I absolutely love Raising Cane’s.”
Another said: “Had this in Vegas.
“It was so good.
“Definitely on a par with Slim Chickens imo.”
A third added: “The sauce is next level.
“I will travel just for that.”
The company is reportedly exploring additional central London locations, including Oxford Circus, Paddington, South Bank, and The Strand, as well as potential drive-thru sites across Greater London.
The London restaurant will be the starting point for the brand’s wider European rollout.
US fast food chain rivalling McDonald’s coming back to UK after 17 years
Raising Cane’s is the latest in a wave of US fast-food brands expanding into the UK market.
Recent arrivals include Popeyes, while Dave’s Hot Chicken and Chick-fil-A have also announced UK expansion plans.
Chili’s Grill & Bar is also looking to come back to the UK after more than 15 years, with hopes of eventually opening more than 100 restaurants across the country.
The chain originally arrived in Britain during the 1990s and operated restaurants in places including Cambridge, Reading and London’s Canary Wharf, but by 2009, every UK branch had closed.
Now, the company is making a fresh attempt at cracking the UK market, aiming to open a flagship restaurant within the next 12 to 18 months before it aims to roll out more sites, reports Need To Know.
Industry insiders say they believe the chain could open between 85 and 100 restaurants if successful, with potential locations including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Liverpool.
The Tex-Mex chain is well-known in the US for its burgers, ribs, fajitas, and margaritas.
What US restaurant or fast food chain would you most like to see come to the UK?
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWhat happens to Halifax customers if Lloyds makes changes?
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoFlock of clay birds set to take flight in special exhibition
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoActor steps down from major role in new Harry Potter series
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoFriends of the Ridgeway appoint Matthew Barber as president
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoNHS fracture service helps support extra 1,000 patients
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoHenley pub once owned by Russell Brand reopens after 6 years
-
UK News4 weeks agoBurnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules