Services now outnumber shops in Sutton centre

TRADITIONAL shops are now outnumbered by service businesses in Sutton Coldfield town centre for the first time ever.

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The rise in out-of-town retail centres and online shopping has hit traditional 'bricks and mortar' retailers hard in recent years.

Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) - the organisation representing more than 300 town centre businesses - said professional services now make up the majority of the centre outlets.

The BID’s June business premises audit found of the 337 businesses in the heart of Sutton, from Lichfield Road to the Royal Cinema, including the Gracechurch Centre and Parade, some 83 or 25% are professional services.

These are businesses such as solicitors, estate agents, financial advisors, accountants, marketing services and recruitment specialists.

This is the first time shopping has not taken top spot in the middle of the town.