The number of vacant units in Oxford city centre looks set for a significant fall according to new figures from Oxford City Council. Continue reading →

Business and organisations from across Oxford are working with the City Council on an initiative to bring empty units back into use more quickly. Continue reading →

The festive windows at Books & Ink Bookshop in Banbury town centre’s White Lion Walk are a Winter Challenge Winner! Banbury’s Business Improvement District (BID) invited the Mayor of Banbury, Cllr Shaida Hussain, to judge the festive window dressing skills of town centre businesses, both national and independent. Continue reading →

Banbury Business Improvement District (BID) has taken over three empty windows in the town centre as part of its work to improve the look of vacant units while efforts continue to get them let. Continue reading →

In June 2018 we began to scope the possibility of an alternative way to deliver the best of the #townteam model of support for town centres.

The aim is to try build a model that would work for town centres that have never had a #townteam or town partnership or #BID, or had one but don’t now. Continue reading →

A follow on to our town team submission to #GrimseyReview2 on the two elements of what we call #MoreThanRetail: using vacant town centre ‘shop’ space creatively and building skills and interest in the community. Continue reading →

On Wednesday July 4th Grimsey Review 2 was published. As a contribution to the debate we share here the submission we made to the review based on our #townteam experience and our connections with town centres and place management colleagues around the country. Continue reading →

The team behind Banbury town centre’s popular Church Lane Art Gallery have taken another big step towards securing its longer-term future.

The 32-member Banbury Artists’ Co-operative, which runs the Gallery, have taken on a one-year licence to occupy the Church Lane unit, so extending its stay there until at least April 2019. Continue reading →

Three long-empty shop units in Castle Quay shopping centre are being brought back into use, thanks to an early project initiative by the new Banbury Business Improvement District (BID).

The BID has taken a six-month licence to occupy the three units at the Market Place end of Castle Quay alongside The Entertainer, on a pop up shop basis, with opportunity for an extended period if the project is a success. Continue reading →

The windows of an empty Banbury town centre shop have been turned into a showcase for a photographic exhibition capturing the colour, fun and vibrancy of Banbury events. Continue reading →