Let’s step up our efforts to get former banks in town and city centres back into use.
With another tranche of closures having just been announced there are now more and more places with this as a challenge, and it’s not easy.
These are often large, high-rent units;
Their layout and sometimes frontage / windows rarely suit other uses without major works;
Many are in heritage buildings so have extra challenges around repurposing;
It’s not unusual for the bank to leave with time left in their lease so you’re looking at an assignment – known to be the trickiest kind of agreement to reach.
The good news is that there are #retail and especially #hospitality brands that are keen on this type of unit and are getting good at the conversion.
There are also a number of councils with grant funding schemes to help tackle the kind of issues you get in situations like this.
So is your place on the case…?
Are you talking to agents, landlords and the bank, if it’s still involved, about options;
Have your planners done some pre-work to make things easier for would-be tenants on the barriers and any conditions they’d ask;
Are you looking at arts & crafts, creative, culture, community, history & heritage, leisure, education, health and health & wellbeing as possible occupiers;
Is a split possible, maybe separating off the upper floors if it has them;
Might #popupshop / ‘meanwhile… use’ be a way forward…?
We’re really keen to share learning on this very significant #highstreet challenge, and would love to hear case studies too…
