Author Archives: Iain Nicholson

So how many of those visibly vacant units in your place are being proactively marketed…? We’ve just run some data based on current #TheVacantShopsAcademy commissions, and wonder how many #highstreet #property and #placemaking colleagues might be surprised. Feel free to … Continue reading →

What’s your view on this incoming “…new power for local authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants, such as local businesses or community groups.” Have you taken part in the .gov technical consultation…? … Continue reading →

Maybe something we don’t talk about enough in #highstreet #placemaking is the welcome at our town centre arrival points – whether that be by rail, bus, car, bike on foot or other means – and the impact on us of … Continue reading →

Office, resi, #retail (rarely now), #hospitality or leisure, storage or nothing at all…? Are we under-using or totally wasting space that could bring in valuable extra uses and potentially additional customers for town or city centre businesses…? Are the uppers … Continue reading →

A very enjoyable #highstreet #placemaking out & about across two days in Richmond and Leyburn, North Yorkshire, a stunning part of the world and very well worth a visit. Much food for thought too… …including returning to the thread of … Continue reading →

So, what are we thinking for the trickier of our former #highstreet #retail bank units, especially those in multi-floor and #heritage buildings…? Returned to the theme on an out & about in Richmond and Leyburn, North Yorkshire which both have … Continue reading →

There was a valuable insight this week in a longer agent’s post about new #highstreet lettings which again illustrates that the picture can change significantly if you drill down beyond the headline vacancy numbers and how things appear if you … Continue reading →

Very enjoyable first full #placemaking day out & about in the city of Sunderland for #TheVacantShopsAcademy. As ever focusing on current #highstreet #retail, #hospitality and services mix, and opportunities to add to that, but taking time too to see how … Continue reading →

What does #placemaking mean for you…? Signage…? A reflection and appreciation of your history and heritage, greenery (or whatever the purple version of that is…?), arts & crafts, creativity, activation, innovation…? All of these and more…? Intriguing to capture some … Continue reading →

Time spent in the park on a tackling #highstreet empty shops commission ‘audit’ day is just sitting down on the job, right…? Well, we did that, but it’s thought-provoking also. Tho on this out & about with #TheVacantShopsAcademy the time … Continue reading →