What would you do with these 4 empty units…
…well maybe not this exact set as they’re images from a recent town centre walk-see, and there maybe things happening behind the scenes with them.
But it’s a conversation we’re having with local teams in #highstreet locations we are working about large, prominent, often multi-floor, sometimes heritage, empty buildings in their town or city centre.
First step is ‘engage’ with agents and landlords as tho visibly vacant they may have a new occupier in play or on the way (under offer).
It’s possible they’re technically let to a previous occupier who left with term in the lease and is therefore still paying rent, possibly for some time yet.
But if they are empty and available, we’d be suggesting the ‘place partnership’ – which brings together agents, landlords, businesses, community, cultural organisations, council(s), chamber, BID if they have one and others identified locally – gets the keys and takes a look inside.
That way you’ll get a sense of occupier options, barriers to let and how they can be overcome and, importantly, which of the partners needs step up to try help make that happen.
If you don’t take this approach you may find units like these stay empty because the commercial #property market gets stuck and cannot, without the wider ‘place’ involvement, move them forward.
So back to your town or city centre. Are you getting inside those large, long-time empties…?
Do let us know.
