On west London’s Uxbridge Road, finding a shop is rarely difficult. Finding something different is another matter.
Residents campaigning to revive the stretch between Shepherd’s Bush and Acton Vale say the high street has become increasingly dominated by betting shops, fried chicken outlets, vape stores, barbers, mobile phone repair businesses and money exchange shops.
The Fix Uxbridge Road campaign believes the concentration of similar businesses has left parts of the road feeling “hollowed out”, with residents calling for a wider mix of independent shops, services, food and community spaces.
The campaign collected almost 3,000 signatures last year calling on Hammersmith and Fulham Council to improve the appearance and diversity of the high street.
A call for greater variety
A spokesperson for Fix Uxbridge Road, speaking to Asian Voice, said the campaign was focused on the overall balance of businesses rather than targeting particular communities or types of traders.
“Fix Uxbridge Road is a resident-led campaign for a diverse, distinctive, safe and attractive high street. We want independent businesses to thrive, residents to spend locally by finding the services they need, and hospitality, culture and community life to have room to grow,” the spokesperson said.
“Asian residents are among the campaigners and voices shaping our calls for change.”
The campaign’s October 2025 mapping of the section of Uxbridge Road it surveyed in W12, covering less than a mile, recorded 13 fried chicken shops, 11 mobile-phone repair businesses, eight betting shops and 14 money exchange and transfer premises.
There are 21 betting licences across the borough, according to the campaign, meaning Uxbridge Road accounts for a significant proportion of them. Gambling businesses have become one of the group’s particular concerns. One betting shop is located close to a primary school.
But gambling is only part of the debate.
The proliferation of fast-food outlets has also become a source of concern. According to Green Street data, the number of takeaways across Britain rose from 2,882 in 2015 to 13,478 last year.
The section of Uxbridge Road covered by the campaign has at least 21 fast-food outlets, almost half of them fried chicken shops. The campaign says its objective is not to remove independent businesses but to create a broader commercial mix.
Its resident survey found that 75 per cent of respondents would like to see another bakery on the road, while bookshops, delis and florists were also among popular choices.
Protecting the Asian character
The campaign spokesperson told Asian Voice that British Asian traders were an important part of the high street’s identity and that the campaign did not want to see established businesses pushed out.
“British Asian shopkeepers and entrepreneurs have made an enormous contribution to Britain’s high streets. Their businesses create jobs, serve local needs, bring specialist knowledge and food, and are often deeply rooted in their communities,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson pointed to newer Asian-owned businesses, including Talli Queen, led by former River Café chef Avinash Shashidhara, and First Light Coffee, which was named a finalist for Best Café at the 2026 UK Small Business Awards.
“Both are examples of distinctive new food and drink offers that can enrich Uxbridge Road,” the spokesperson said.
The road is also home to Pakistani, Thai and Nepalese restaurants, as well as an established Asian-run independent hardware shop that has served the area since 1982.
Fixing the high street
The campaign also argues that the physical condition of the road needs attention. “Cluttered pavements, neglected shopfronts and graffiti make the high street less welcoming and harder to navigate,” the spokesperson said.
Campaigners say pressure from residents has helped secure some improvements, but argue that too much of the responsibility has fallen on volunteers. They are calling for a funded plan with clear deadlines, named responsibilities and public progress updates.
Such a plan, they say, should include measures to make premises more accessible to independent traders, improve information about vacancies, rents and lease premiums, provide targeted grants or matched funding for shopfront and public-realm improvements, and better coordinate planning, licensing and enforcement.
The Government has announced a £210 million package aimed at supporting high streets, including measures designed to give councils more scope to intervene when commercial properties have remained vacant for at least a year.
For Fix Uxbridge Road, the issue is ultimately about creating a high street where existing businesses can remain while new ones add to the choice available. “Long-standing traders should be able to stay and thrive, while new businesses add to the choice, character and opportunity of Uxbridge Road,” the spokesperson said.
The campaign believes the council should use its planning and licensing powers fairly and on evidence, while working with landlords to make premises more accessible to independent businesses.
It also wants the Government to strengthen support for small businesses, including action on business rates and affordable commercial space.
The road already has businesses, customers and footfall. What residents say it lacks is variety. The question now is whether councils, landlords and businesses can create that diversity without simply replacing one form of commercial uniformity with another.
