Overview

• The Health Equity North report reveals a 20% decline in retail units, 40% loss of banks, and significant reductions in pharmacies and public toilets on England's high streets since 2014.
• Vape shops have surged by nearly 1,200%, with deprived areas hosting over three times more than affluent ones, alongside a 25-fold increase in pawnbrokers and threefold rise in bookmakers.
• Northern regions have experienced steeper declines in public amenities, with public toilets down 32% compared to 19% in the South and a 31% increase in takeaways versus 18% in the South.
• The disappearance of 'third places' like cafes, pubs, and community centres has reduced social cohesion and worsened health and wellbeing disparities.
• Researchers urge the government to empower local councils with regulatory tools to curb unhealthy outlets and incentivize essential services to revitalize high streets and address inequalities.