Author Archives: Iain Nicholson

What happens when a national brand targets your town or city centre for a new store or venue. Working on tackling #highstreet vacancy, as we are now with 36 different locations, we’ve many agent connections and so regularly see and … Continue reading →

What would you do with these 4 empty units… …well maybe not this exact set as they’re images from a recent town centre walk-see, and there maybe things happening behind the scenes with them. But it’s a conversation we’re having … Continue reading →

Should we pause the knocking down thing in town and city centres…? Just to allow a moment to review, take a tackling #highstreet vacancy-focused ‘place partnership’ team inside the empty units, explore the barriers and options to occupy and, importantly, … Continue reading →

One of the reasons I’m so optimistic about the future of our town and city centres is the people… …council colleagues, BID teams, #property agents, landlords, businesses, community leaders, cultural organisation members, shopping centre asset managers and more, working hard … Continue reading →

It’s always interesting to return to a town you’ve not been in for a while… …especially one that added a new #highstreet or uncovered, single street shopping centre, to its existing one. And so, just for a walk-see, to Didcot … Continue reading →

“An innovative space for clients and non-customers, which brings a bank, co-working area and coffee house together in a single place.” And that’s your new work cafe by a bank. Interesting. After a full-on month which has taken us to … Continue reading →

Sometimes in a town or city centre a particular empty unit draws your attention. Maybe it’s attractive, unusual, heritage even… …and makes you wonder what its story is, why it’s empty, what options there are for its future and how … Continue reading →

What’s the best way to get the delivery stage of your tackling #highstreet vacancy initiative underway. Believing so strongly in town and city centres where empty units is an issue having a positive, proactive, inclusive ‘place partnership’ on the case, … Continue reading →

So I sat for two hours in a vacant town centre shop… …and had a great time…! Good thing is, I was not alone. The best thing is I was really lucky to have been there as part of the … Continue reading →