Town centres are losing their individual character with streets of distinctive independent shops replaced by bland and samey chain stores, research warns today.
Independent thinktank the New Economics Foundation (nef) said 42% of UK towns can now be classed as 'clone towns'.
Areas once characterised by a thriving mix of independent butchers, newsagents, pubs, bookshops and greengrocers are now home to 'faceless' supermarkets, fast-food chains, mobile phone shops and global fashion outlets, nef claimed.
As a result, many town centres can easily be mistaken for several others around the UK.
The report, which surveyed 103 towns and cities, found the worst culprit is Exeter.
Only one independent shop - a tobacconist - still trades in the Devon city but it is home to several chain stores including Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and Carphone Warehouse.
Just 36% of areas can be described as 'home towns', nef said, with a high street that has retained its individual character making it instantly recognisable and distinctive to local residents and visitors.
Andrew Simms, nef policy adviser, said: "Clone stores have a triple whammy on communities: they bleed the local economy of money, destroy the social glue provided by real local shops that hold communities together, and they steal the identity of our towns and cities.
"The argument that big retail is good because it provides consumers with choice is ironic, because in the end it leaves us with no choice at all."
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which represents 185,000 firms, claimed the research shows the odds are stacking up against small stores.
"Small shops trade at a disadvantage compared to supermarkets with their huge buying power, and to charity shops which are given generous tax and business rate discounts," said FSB chairman John Walker
"On top of this since April this year retailers have seen an average 15.7% hike in their business rate bills - normally the second or third highest outgoing for a small business."
The nef report recommended that planning law is used to promote opportunity for locally-owned stores and a retail takeover moratorium is introduced to prevent national chains buying out more local convenience shops.
