The Local Data Company (LDC) Retail Unit data offers insights into the locations and characteristics of retail activity and vacancy across the UK. This safeguarded dataset provides retail unit classification counts aggregated annually at the Local Authority District level. Each snapshot represents the state of retail units as of September 30th of that year.
Content
These annual snapshots are derived from the LDC Longitudinal Retail Unit secure record. Snapshots are provided for the years 2015–2025. For each year, retail units that were active on September 30th (i.e., created before that date and not yet closed) are identified and aggregated by Local Authority District using their geographic coordinates.
The dataset includes counts for the following variables:
- Total Retail Units
- Vacant
- Comparison
- Convenience
- Leisure
- Service
- Non-Retail
- Miscellaneous
For a detailed description of the columns contained within the data, see the Variable Dictionary; and for an overview of the characteristics of the data, see the Data Summary. These files can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.
If you are interested in record-level LDC data, these are available from the Related Record below.
Please note that this dataset cannot be accessed via our service by local authorities or organisations working with/for local authorities or associated entities such as Business Improvement Districts or Combined Authorities.
Quality, Representation and Bias
LDC surveys retail locations across the UK, with coverage focused on high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks. Rural and smaller retail locations may be underrepresented.
Survey representation varies over time, with the most recent years being the most complete; therefore, additional caution should be taken when conducting temporal analysis.
