EditorCarmarthen High Street sees remarkable turnaround with 19% footfall surge
New data from retail intelligence firm MRI Software revealed the impressive growth, placing Carmarthen just behind Ballycastle High Street in County Antrim, which saw a 20% increase. The turnaround comes after a difficult period for the town centre, which has been hit hard by the loss of big-name retailers.
In recent years, Carmarthen has seen the closure of major stores including Wilko, Joules, and the flagship Debenhams department store. However, the new data suggests a significant bounce-back, fueled by a combination of new investment, council-led regeneration, and a focus on independent businesses.
This recovery is being driven by several key initiatives. The town’s former Debenhams store is being reborn as “Atriwm”, a major health and wellbeing hub, while plans are also underway for a revamp of the Cambrian Way shopping centre to include new apartments.
Carmarthenshire Council has also announced funding to bring empty commercial buildings back into use and setting out new plans for the future of the town centre. Support for smaller businesses has also been a focus, with initiatives like pop-up shops offering local businesses a retail spot amongst national chains.
The positive trend is further boosted by new openings, such as the new B&Q store set to open in late February.
The MRI Software report, which analysed data from thousands of retail destinations, states that Carmarthen’s 18.9% year-on-year growth was twice as big as all but two other high streets in the UK, demonstrating its exceptional performance.
Top 5 Fastest-Growing High Streets in the UK (2025)
RankHigh StreetLocationYoY Footfall Growth1Ballycastle High StreetCounty Antrim20.1%2Carmarthen High StreetCarmarthenshire18.9%3Portrush High StreetCounty Antrim12.8%4Shrewsbury BIDShropshire7.6%5Southside DistrictBirmingham7.2%The research also identified the top-performing retail parks and shopping centres. Newcastle Quays Retail Park in North Shields led the retail park category with 10% growth, while the Victoria Shopping Centre in Southend was the fastest-growing shopping centre with a 12% increase in footfall.
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