Footfall is also on the recovery trail, returning to two-thirds of pre-COVID-19 levels in the week ending July 26, with retail parks the preferred destination, reaching 80% of normal footfall.
Time will tell whether the introduction of mandatory face masks will reassure shoppers and further boost footfall, along with other measures designed to kickstart consumer spending, including a VAT cut from 20% to 5% on food and accommodation, and an 'eat out to help out' discount scheme for pubs and restaurants.
Further administrations, store closures and rent declines are inevitable over the year ahead, but downturns also present opportunities.
Reforms that simplify the Use Class Order will help in this regard, as from September it will be easier for high street uses to change without a planning application, giving premises greater freedom to adapt to local needs.
Landlords are also taking a more proactive