Heard a brilliant story this week…
…one that could be repeated in every town and city centre where tackling #highstreet vacancy is an issue.
Thing is. It was a story about a farm.
So how – you may be asking – does that translate to a ‘high street’ setting…?
The story was shared by at an insightful Good 2 Great, Meeting of Minds event in Shropshire, and featured Fordhall Community Land Initiative:
“Registered as a charitable Community Benefit Society, the Fordhall Community Land Initiative Ltd. (FCLI) is run by over 8,000 non-profit making community shareholders. Put another way: 1 farmer, 8,000 landlords!”
…and that last bit is where I believe this plays to our tackling vacancy work because in every location we’re supporting with #TheVacantShopsAcademy there is at least one empty unit where, for whatever reason, the landlord isn’t on the same page as residents and existing businesses about the best way forward.
What works for the landlord commercially, financially, may not be what the place would choose, and the building stays empty, often for years.
So could community ownership be the solution…? Imagine that long-empty unit in your place, bought by local people, open and operating again for community benefit. For sure it’s challenging, but colleagues who know much more about this than me are doing a lot of work on the ‘how’.
It’d be great to get your thoughts…
+ With thanks to Shropshire Live for the image, coverage and positive headline…!
