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As the Epping Forest district enters the festive season, now is the time to eat, drink and be merry.
The high street towns of Epping Forest are becoming destination economies as people within the district and beyond are drawn to our range of shops, pubs and restaurants.
Boosting local high street economies
Free weekend parking in the Christmas run-up is expected to further boost local high street economies. Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) has announced its annual December free weekend parking including the new multi-storey car park in Epping as residents are encouraged to shop local.
Five years since the start of the COVID pandemic, research shows visitor numbers to high streets across the Epping Forest district are up. Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) is encouraging more visitors by offering parking for free on weekends throughout December and inviting residents to download the Discover app for offers and information about their local high street.
High Street shoppers
EFDC compared visitor data from 2019 onwards for our 6 major town centres of Buckhurst Hill, Epping, Loughton Broadway, Loughton High Road, Waltham Abbey and Ongar.
Using 2019 visitor figures as a benchmark, quarterly reports showed the impact of the lockdown restrictions on the 6 towns, and the return of people to local high streets as restrictions were lifted and the public were encouraged to return to normal.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhurst Hill | 6,204 | 3,654 | 3,692 | 5,469 | 6,315 |
| Epping | 4,684 | 3,765 | 3,532 | 6,510 | 7,490 |
| Loughton Broadway | 4,561 | 3,816 | 3,269 | 5,916 | 8,297 |
| Loughton High Rd | 5,929 | 3,342 | 3,934 | 6,659 | 6,340 |
| Ongar | 3,784 | 3,014 | 3,342 | 5,250 | 4,317 |
| Waltham Abbey | 4,553 | 3,626 | 4,386 | 5,953 | 5,285 |
Results
Visitor numbers bounced back quickly with almost all EFDC towns surpassing pre-pandemic visitor numbers by 2022.
Some towns saw visitor numbers growing even further during 2023. Since the return to normal, Buckhurst Hill and Epping in particular, have continued to see visitor growth and the Loughton Broadway has seen a significant increase.
The 2 areas of Ongar and Waltham Abbey saw the least fluctuation in visitors during the pandemic and were the first to see their visitor numbers return to normal, with 2021 visitors just short of those in 2019.
Supporting our high streets
Councillor Holly Whitbread, Cabinet Member for Finance and Economic Development said:
High streets are some of the most important wealth creators for our economy as well as spaces to meet and socialise. We have some of the best shops, pubs and restaurants to be found anywhere.
I’m so pleased with the results of this report. It’s wonderful to know our high streets are doing so well, but it is vital to avoid complacency and maintain our momentum. There is always more we can do to promote our high streets.
Epping Forest District Council is investing millions in our town centres from the redevelopments in Epping to the refurbishments in the Broadway. Christmas is a vital time for retailers and especially for many of our small businesses that give Epping Forest its special character and identity. Free parking is another important annual boost.
Please continue to support our high streets this Christmas by shopping local. I’m delighted to announce that EFDC can help residents do this by, once again, offering free weekend parking throughout December, starting on Sunday 1 December.
Free weekend parking in December
Residents and visitors will be able to use any EFDC-operated public car park free of charge at weekends in December while they do their Christmas shopping or visit family and friends. Qualis Group Ltd is also offering free weekend parking at the Cottis Yard multi-storey car park in Epping.
Find a car park
Visit the website for a list of EFDC-operated public car parks:
Parking on bank holidays is free in all EFDC-operated public car parks. There is no need to get a ticket at any EFDC or Qualis-owned car park during weekends in December.
Discover app
Many local businesses are also part of the Discover app, which offers residents promotions and information about places to eat, where to shop and fun events for all ages in their town.
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