Best and worst UK high streets revealed: Shields Road in Newcastle ranks last
Shields Road in Newcastle has been named Britain's worst shopping destination for a second time.
The street in Byker ranked last on a list of 1,000 retail locations compiled by strategic retail property consultancy Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH).
The area has 19% of its shops closed - about one in five and more than double the average - while winner Cambridge has only 5.7%.
And more than half of the shops in Byker Shields are budget outlets, compared to just 4.2% in Cambridge.
The index ranks high streets using factors including the number of upmarket shops, discount retailers, pawnbrokers and empty shops.
The suitability to the local shopper is a key factor, meaning that the presence of low-end retailers is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the local area consists largely of residents that prioritise value for money.
Cambridge, which also took first place in 2017, saw off competition from retail destinations in London, including Westfield London and Knightsbridge.
Jonathan De Mello, head of retail consultancy at HDH, said: "The changing face of the high street means retailers need to be confident their investment is likely to pay off.
"Quality retailers don't want to be surrounded by empty units, discount retailers and betting shops, which are a clear indicator of deprivation in the area."
He said that the research showed that small but flourishing towns and suburbs can be viable retail locations, particularly as rents are typically more affordable.
James Ebel, chief executive of HDH, said: "This latest piece of research from HDH shows that Cambridge City Centre continues to be the healthiest retail district in Britain.
"The city benefits from its heritage as a centre for academia, as well as its location - less than an hour from London - which draws day-trippers as well as affluent residents."
Mr Ebel added that London has also performed well, with seven of the top 10 retail centres located in the capital. They include the world-famous West End, along with the office worker-orientated Canary Wharf and smaller affluent suburbs such as Richmond.
