The Times they are a…? 🤞

Just couldn’t resist this.

🗞️ It may be a one off, or there’ll be a delay before others follow. Or it’s the start of something.

What is…?

🛍️ A national newspaper story with a headline which includes the words: “high street revival”, has a sub header: “Retailers are putting their faith in bricks & mortar as it becomes clear customers want in-store shopping” and, most telling of all, follows with the phrase:

“…the death of the high street may have been greatly exaggerated.”

🗝️ The article in The Times goes on to list #retail “chains in expansion mode” and “moving into larger units”.

The piece may of course be the one swallow that ain’t making a summer. But if it’s more than that, it’s crucial.

📈 As we’ve been saying for many years, and as the brilliant Laura Harris #HighStreetPositives series on here is demonstrating, upbeat sentiment makes a difference to investment decisions, to business owners opting to take on new units, to more customers choosing the #highstreet over alternatives. And the momentum builds.

From our perspective at #TheVacantShopsAcademy none of this is a surprise. We’re lucky enough to be working with 30+ places and have seen for some time increasing interest, longer #property requirements lists, more new lettings.

⚖️ It’s challenging still. We continue to have a range of #placemaking policy and regulation things that could be reviewed and adjusted which are holding us back, and most of all there are towns and cities without the tackling vacancy-focused ‘place partnership’ that’s needed to work together on reducing their vacancy rate and improving the mix of uses.

💡We’re trying to encourage and inspire more places to take this on.

And if the national media narrative is (finally) shifting that’s 💯 going to help…!