4 new locations…

Awesome week out & about #highstreet #placemaking.

💡 Four very different places so intriguing to see the common ground and how much the local teams could share.

Our #TheVacantShopsAcademy focus on reducing empty shops numbers is one of those – tho in each case this week it’s less about significant numbers of vacant units, and more that they have some tricky, often long-time empties to tackle.

🤔 That’s why we’ve introduced a new option – a version of our tackling vacancy approach for smaller locations or those with only a few but challenging units. It’s been good to start to pilot that in town and city centres and we very much hope it’ll be of interest to others with the same vacancy profile. Do get in touch if that’s you.

Another theme of the week is how much measures beyond those directly related to reducing vacancy and improving the mix of uses can contribute.

🎨 #streetart, sculptures, murals and the like;

• wayfinding, signage, street scene, furniture, bins & benches etc.;

🎡 events, markets and other activations;

• promotion of businesses and organisations you have already, those incoming, and the empty units as opportunities for others to join them.

💡 As ever we’ve learned a huge amount. Thanks Putney, Stratford-upon-Avon, Alcester, Southam…!