A really intriguing part of our tackling #highstreet vacancy work of late has been conversations with local housing association colleagues, school, college, library / leisure services leaders and, next week, police officers about playing a part – even as far as taking on an empty unit for their organisation.
If you haven’t already, might it be worth exploring in your place…?
It’s a feature of our #TheVacantShopsAcademy approach that we’re testing options beyond #retail, #hospitality & services including arts & crafts, creative, culture, community, history & heritage, leisure, education, health and health & wellbeing. And it’s especially a potential go to for places with mid- / high teens or over 20% vacancy rates where these ‘alternative’ or additional use types might be more likely to make things happen.
Options could include:
- community hubs;
- extra space when they’ve reached capacity in their own buildings;
- chance to be in the typically more accessible town centre when their base is in a location mostly reached by car;
- innovating with service offers they’ve not tried before;
- And maybe others we’ve not yet thought of…?
At the heart of it is the idea that where national brands or indies are hesitant – for now at least – these community uses could take on units, solo or in collaboration, improve the look of an empty, boost footfall, support your existing businesses and help kick start a revival by creating a momentum that commercial operators then follow.
Though its early days, we’ve had some really encouraging discussions in places we’re working, and there is a growing portfolio of examples around the country to draw on, so…
It’d be great to hear from #property and #placemaking colleagues who are on the case with these types of uses already…
