Author Archives: Iain Nicholson

That long-stuck 14% national vacancy rate must surely start to come down now. I say that based on two things: + Feedback from locations we’re working on tackling #highstreet vacancy with #TheVacantShopsAcademy, who are seeing their headline empty ‘shops’ rates … Continue reading →

I always enjoy my visits here. Heritage buildings and ventures, frequent reminders of its history, a variety of brands, long established indies, new arrivals, #retail, #hospitality, services, arts & crafts, creative, culture playing their part, waterways with a new leisure … Continue reading →

Let’s be really ambitious about the role schools and colleges can play in helping tackle vacancy in our town and city centres. We should maybe agree at the outset that it’s challenging: limitations on staff time plus curriculum and exam … Continue reading →

Retail is very much still part of the #highstreet mix.  Shops are typically top of or at least prominent on any list of what residents say they want from their town or city centre when asked.  A number of brands … Continue reading →

Which words do you most often see or hear first if someone is just about to write or say #highstreet landlord.  Greedy. Absentee. Not interested…? How about we replace those with… Struggling. Anxious. Trying (the making a big effort sort, … Continue reading →

Would a National Early Vacancy Insurance Scheme work…? I’m hoping it’s something #legal and #property colleagues might have some thoughts on. The idea is to help us overcome two especially tricky kinds of empty unit: + Those where the tenant … Continue reading →

So the 2024 #highstreet lettings season is pretty well done, time to reflect on how your town and city centre did on reducing empty units. Though there’ll still be more in the pipeline for some places, it is typically a … Continue reading →

We should use poetry more often to help tackle #highstreet vacancy. It’s an idea sparked during an insightful and enjoyable visit with #TheVacantShopsAcademy to Grimsby town centre. The poem in the lead picture is one of the locally-focused features of … Continue reading →

What does your place look like after dark. Are your historic buildings, waterways, art installations and other features highlighted. Is your town or city centre worth a late visit just to see them, and what’s its offer…? In particular, from … Continue reading →