A nearby coastline could be a big asset for tackling #highstreet vacancy and improving the mix of uses in your town or city centre.
But how…?
It seems like connectivity, competition and confidence might be key to this.
- Is the beach or the view or its working life attracting people;
- Are they the same as the target ages and demographic for the businesses you have;
Does the branding and marketing of your coastline (or waterway as the same might apply to those) include the town centre too;
Do they travel (drive…?) to your coastline, enjoy that and head home without venturing to the town centre;
- Do you have great wayfinding and positive information sources there to point people to town and encourage them to go, and if it’s a distance, attractive ‘transport’ options to help;
Or have you sited all the things they might need for a day out in the coastline area so they don’t actually need to go use your town…?
It may even be that your visitors offer a clue to elements of the #retail, #hospitality or services your ‘place partnership’ aims for to fill your empties. Or that going after arts & crafts, creative, culture, community, history & heritage; leisure uses is a good fit.
It’d be great to hear from #placemaking and #property colleagues who’ve made a coastline or waterway asset work for your town centre.
