Despite negative narratives about a struggling town centre, recent data from Springboard shows that Andover is performing much better than many other towns in the UK. According to the data, Andover’s town centre has a vacancy rate of just 9.7%, which is significantly better than the national average of 11% and even beats the South East average of 9.9%. This indicates that the town centre is in a healthy state, with a good number of businesses operating and serving the local community.
Furthermore, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, footfall in Andover town centre has increased impressively by 16.55% since 2019. This highlights the resilience of local businesses and the strength of the community.
One supporting factor to these positive results is the Andover BID (Business Improvement District), a non-profit organisation that supports local businesses and works to enhance the town centre. The Andover BID has been actively promoting the town, encouraging investment, and creating an inviting and attractive environment for shoppers and visitors.
Steve Godwin, Manager of Andover BID, said: “We are delighted with the latest figures from Springboard, which demonstrate that Andover town centre is performing well despite the ongoing challenges. The low vacancy rate and increased footfall are a testament to the hard work of local businesses and the strength of the community. We have a high number of independently owned businesses as well as a good mix of national names and we continue to see new openings and interest in our town The Andover BID is committed to continuing to support local businesses and enhancing the town centre, and we are confident that Andover will continue to thrive in the years ahead.”
Despite the challenges of Covid 19 and the difficult circumstances of the past few years, Andover town centre is performing well. The vacancy rate is low, footfall is increasing, and local businesses are thriving. This is a testament to the hard work of the Andover BID and the resilience of the local community. Although there is still more to be done, these positive results are cause for optimism and celebration.