Changing face of UK's high streets: How nearly 5,000 stores have shut in past year after retailers including Wilko, Paperchase and M&Co shut their doors - while Greggs, Domino's and Costa thrive

But other firms including Greggs, Domino's and Aldi have opened more shops Nearly 5,000 stores shut across Britain last year after retailers including Wilko, Paperchase and Lloyds pharmacy shut their doors. WATERLOOVILLE: Wendy and Eric Croad, 72 and 75 respectively, have lived in the area since 1955 but regret to see the area's sharp decline BANBURY: Local resident Robert Page, 64, posing in front of a closed shop that used to be Debenhams Greggs saw one of the largest growths in the number of locations for its shops last year Net percentage change of the number of chain outlets by the type of location from 2022-23 It comes amid fears that the once beating heart of the community could be demolished and turned into a new housing complex - after it emerged there were plans to redevelop a retail and car park area nearby into 230 homes. Since then dozens of shops have closed down, leaving many retail units vacant Today: Council officials are grappling with hundreds of shop closures that have left large parts of the town centre empty Now residents have formed a new political party to stop the controversial plans – although they acknowledge their high street is decaying and peppered with empty units. Pictured left is the current high street and how planners believe it will look ‹ Slide me › The Market Square, as one of the town centre blocks of office and shop space is called, could be replaced with 492 new one and two bedroom flats for renters, with a smattering of shops Plans to bulldoze vast swathes of Basildon and replace it with hundreds of homes have divided locals. Farm hands wait in the market square to be taken on by new employers at the Michaelmas Hiring Fair in High Wycombe, 1912 Councillors in High Wycombe want to rip down the 7,035-square-yard Chilterns Shopping Centre and replace it with a 'residential development' The development is touted as 'the single biggest transformation' for High Wycombe's Old Town, and is a reflection of the struggles of local shops in the fact of competition from online retailing Locals called the plan to get rid of 175 to 179 Gordon Road, including a popular grocer, as 'ludicrous' and accused officials of ripping out a 'key part of the community', reported the Bucks Free Press.