Non essential retailers ready to reopen as Covid lockdown roadmap is revealed

The British Retail Consortium has called on the UK government to be more flexible on the reopening of non-essential retail as it plots a way out of a third coronavirus lockdown.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, today presented to MPs in the House of Commons a step-by-step plan for lifting restrictions in England, with all limits on social contact set to be removed by 21st June at the earliest.

Today I’ll be setting out a roadmap to bring us out of lockdown cautiously. Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education and wellbeing. We'll also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 22, 2021

This will see non-essential retailers reopening in England on 12th April, although this date is based on the best case scenario and could be subject to delay, Johnson has stressed.

“We welcome the additional clarity provided by the Prime Minister. While we are encouraged by a plan for non-essential stores to reopen, the heavy impact of the pandemic means some may never be able to,” says Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of at the BRC.

“The cost of lost sales to non-food stores during lockdown is now over £22 billion and counting. Every day that a shop remains closed increases the chances that it will never open again - costing jobs and damaging local communities.”

She argues that non-essential shops are ready to reopen and have been investing hundreds of millions on making themselves Covid-secure. Government should, therefore, remain flexible and green light a reopening as soon as the data suggests it is safe to do so.

Until then, retailers will need continued support from government.

“We welcome the PM’s call ‘not to pull the rug out’ from under businesses. To this end, the government must act on three vital issues – rents, rates and grants,” Dickinson says.

“To avoid further job losses and permanent job closures, the Chancellor must announce a targeted business rates relief from April and extend the moratorium on debt enforcement, as well as removing state aid caps on Covid business grants.”

“This would relieve struggling businesses of bills they cannot currently pay and allow them to trade their way to recovery,” she concludes.