Great British Aisles: Supermarkets voted as most sought-after high-street establishments

Supermarkets are the most highly sought-after high street establishments among UK adults, a new survey from Market Financial Solutions has revealed

 
The specialist lender commissioned an independent, nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults. It found that having a vibrant local high street is an important consideration for one in two (51%) people when choosing where to live, with 28% willing to pay a premium when buying or renting if the property was near one.

When asked which amenities make up a great local high street, supermarkets were the most popular choice. More than nine in ten (91%) respondents said that supermarkets are an ‘essential’ or ‘important’ element on a high street.

Healthcare establishments (GPs, dentists and opticians – 90%) and post offices (89%) are the second and third most sought-after high-street features.

Conversely, at the bottom of the list, just a third (34%) of people said that boutique shops for fashion, home décor or furniture are essential or important, while gyms and fitness studios (42%) came one place higher.

As for hospitality venues, three fifths (61%) of UK adults said that pubs are essential or important, losing out to cafes and coffee shops (65%) and restaurants and takeaways (68%).
 
Here is the top 10 in full:
 

• Supermarkets (including mini, local and express supermarkets) – 91% said they are ‘essential’ or ‘important’
• GPs, dentists and opticians – 90%
• Post offices – 89%
• Convenience stores that are open late – 77%
• Hairdressers and barbers – 70%
• Restaurants and takeaways – 68%
• Cafés and coffee shops – 65%
• Pubs – 61%
• Gyms / fitness studios – 42%
• Boutique shops for fashion or home décor/furniture – 34%

 
Paresh Raja, CEO of Market Financial Solutions, said: “Convenience reigns supreme, with UK adults naming supermarkets as the most essential element of a high-quality high street. More than that, with 28% willing to pay more for a property close to a vibrant one, it is clear that vibrant high streets remain integral to the decision-making of many Britons when searching for a home.

“For all the speculation about the death of the high street over the past two decades amid pressure from eCommerce and rapid delivery services, they are evidently still at the heart of local communities. The resilience they have shown and the popularity they still have suggests they’ll continue to hold strong appeal in both the residential and commercial property markets in the years to come – something property investors ought to consider.”

About the research
 
The market research was carried out between 5th and 11th November 2024 among 2,000 UK adults via an online survey by independent market research agency Opinium. Opinium is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) Company Partner Service, whose code of conduct and quality commitment it strictly adheres to. Its MRS membership means that it adheres to strict guidelines regarding all phases of research, including research design and data collection; communicating with respondents; conducting fieldwork; analysis and reporting; data storage. The data sample of 2,000 UK adults is fully nationally representative. This means the sample is weighted to ONS criteria so that the gender, age, social grade, region and city of the respondents corresponds to the UK population as a whole.