Bradford has been named the strongest area for retail in Yorkshire after outperforming its larger counterparts, with retail units rising year-on-year.
Across England and Wales, the city ranked sixteenth out of 310 local authorities for retail health, in a new benchmark that measures the strength and growth of retail provision across the country.
The Local Retail Health Index, by money.co.ukbusiness savings account experts, highlights which high streets are growing and attracting investment, and those that are rapidly losing ground.
The data found that nearly 3,000 local retail units have been lost across England and Wales between 2024 and 2025, with closures disproportionately concentrated in already weaker-performing areas.
However, some high streets are showing resilience against this national trend. Bradford is the best-performing local authority in Yorkshire, despite neighbouring cities having significantly more investment.
Bradford added 75 units to its high street between 2024 and 2025, taking its total retail provision to 46 shops per 10,000 residents, well above the national average of 41. Its Yorkshire city counterparts, Sheffield and Leeds, recorded a net loss of 25 and 15 retail units respectively.
Other major cities like Manchester also recorded a net loss of 50, and Birmingham added just 15 units, showing Bradford is outpacing many northern hubs.
After winning UK’s City of Culture 2025, Bradford saw a major push to build on its regeneration efforts, with no signs of slowing down. Bradford City Village has now been granted approval and will officially start breaking ground. The development plans to include nearly 1,000 new homes, along with new retail, hospitality and office spaces, aiming to bring more footfall into the city centre.
Top 10 areas with the best performing high streets in Yorkshire and The Humber, 2025
- Bradford
- Kirklees
- York
- Leeds
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Calderdale
- Barnsley
- Doncaster
- North Lincolnshire
- Sheffield
Overall, Newham, Blackburn with Darwen, and Watford emerged as England and Wales’ healthiest retail hubs.
Top 10 areas with the best performing high streets in England and Wales:
- Newham, Inner London
- Blackburn with Darwen, North West
- Watford, East England
- Brent, Outer London
- Wandsworth, Inner London
- Derbyshire Dales, East Midlands
- Islington, Inner London
- Leicester, East Midlands
- Hounslow, Outer London
- Oldham, North West
