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Rotherham high street struggles as shoppers favour nearby retail parks
Rotherham’s town centre has lost shoppers to nearby retail parks and Meadowhall, leaving many shops empty and changing how locals shop. The article asks whether anything can revive the British high street, as residents describe a centre dominated by vape, nail and charity shops while Parkgate attracts shoppers seeking convenience.
Parkgate opened in 1987 and remains popular, with retailers competing for space; by the end of 2025, just 4.8% of retail park units across Britain were vacant, compared with 13% on high streets. In Rotherham, about 70 town-centre units, or 24%, are vacant, including former BrightHouse and Fultons Foods branches. Some shoppers acknowledge that choosing retail parks contributes to the decline of local shops and the social life they once supported.
In short
- Rotherham’s town centre has a 24% vacancy rate.
- Nearby retail parks remain busy and in high demand.
- Locals say convenience has come at a community cost.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “‘It’s just vape shops, nail shops, charity shops’: Can anything save the British high street?”.