Author Archives: Iain Nicholson

So here’s a tricky balancing act… …and (yet) another reason why having a positive, proactive, tackling #highstreet vacancy-focused ‘place partnership’ can be a huge help in reducing empty unit numbers and importantly too, improving the mix of use types your … Continue reading →

It’s 3 years this week since our first out & about on a tackling vacancy commission for The Vacant Shops Academy. Thanks Cheltenham…! In the time since we’ve taken our ‘audit, engage, encourage, promote’ approach to 36 locations, seen some … Continue reading →

“…work together, deploy all the projects that apply to your place, not just one or two elements, and you will have an effective strategy to reduce vacancy and improve the local mix of uses.” Updating our guide to tackling #highstreet … Continue reading →

Windows. No. Not the PC operating systems thing. I’m the least technical person you know. I mean the #highstreet shop front and upper floors type and why they can be important to tackling town and city centre vacancy. Here’s how. … Continue reading →

Are you putting vinyls on empty units in your town or city centre. It’d be great to hear experiences, positive or challenging. We were asked by one of the locations we’re supporting on tackling #highstreet vacancy about the approach to … Continue reading →

Hands up who has a unit or even a whole building in their town or city centre that’s been empty for five years. Any for 10 years…? What about 20…? It’s a question I asked attendees at an interactive workshop … Continue reading →

It’s a brilliant city centre… …so enjoyed our time in Bradford for the Association of Town & City Management’s sunny Summer School #SS25Bradford, with place leaders and managers from around the country. A huge amount happening, more in the pipeline. … Continue reading →

Looking ahead to an exciting week in the conversation about how much of a role arts & crafts, creative, culture can play in our town and city centres… …in lots of ways, but in particular for our focus on tackling … Continue reading →