A platform shared…

Two brilliant #placemaking case studies.

The Oxford Road Stories. Hat District.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you Reading, Luton.

Often on these threads we talk about arts & crafts, creative, culture, community, history, heritage as part of the ‘next steps’ narrative for town & city centres tackling #highstreet empty shops issues with #TheVacantShopsAcademy, as potential use type options to fill target vacant units, and as crucial to improving perception of and pride in place…

💡 …so it was inspirational to be able to share a platform at this week’s Heritage Trust Network event with Donna Pentelow and Marie Kirbyshaw as they described those two initiatives.

I believe council, #BID, civic society and other local teams working on this issue will find much to learn from.

🎨 The art of the possible it was, literally, and really helpful to follow with my outline of our ‘audit, engage’ approach, emphasising the importance as a strategic first step of getting the backstory and understanding the barriers to let of vacant units in your place.

What these two illustrate are some of the very practical ways places can play a part in overcoming those barriers, the importance of #community involvement, and how a range of ‘look’ improvements can help too.

🗣️ Do check them out, and please share your stories of projects that are strengthening the vitality of individual streets and bringing landmark buildings back into play…!