Category Archives: News Centre

More than half the ‘next steps’ narrative suggestions in our #TheVacantShopsAcademy reports for places we’re supporting to tackle vacancy are less directly about the empties themselves and more around wider #highstreet #placemaking. Very often that’s included ways to bring more … Continue reading →

Encouraging return visit to Chepstow to check in on the units that looked to be vacant in our ‘audit’ walk-see there earlier in the year, and build on the insights from #property agents in the ‘engage’ phase. A number of … Continue reading →

There’s much conversation when we get to the 3rd – ‘encourage’ – phase of our approach to tackling empty shops issues, about the different types of businesses and organisations we might try attract as a place to fill vacant units. … Continue reading →

Can existing #retail and #hospitality businesses play a part in helping their #highstreet place tackle vacancy…? It was a question I was asked at a meeting of business owners and managers in the very lovely town of Henley-on-Thames. And the … Continue reading →

What positives do you take away from a #highstreet #placemaking visit to one of our town or city centres…? Street art, the floral displays, the attractive buildings, its natural and heritage attractions, a strong mix of #indie #retail, #hospitality and … Continue reading →

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 →