Brilliant to be back in Tredegar to see the latest in their stunning wall and street art series, with more to follow…
It’s a really insightful example I know other ‘place partnership’ teams are taking an interest in of how wider #placemaking initiatives can be central to a tackling #highstreet vacancy project – and maybe, as in this case, lead the ‘next steps’ ahead of focus on the empty units themselves.
It’s also an illustration of how the history & heritage of a town – its buildings, past industries, people and their stories – can make a difference today.
For Tredegar, the birthplace of the NHS, it’s that which is at the heart of this initiative – for your place it’ll be something else and it would be great to hear of other examples.
From a tackling vacancy perspective the thinking is that if the town centre looks the best it can be in terms of its street scene and furniture – bins, bollards, benches and the like – as well as its buildings having an upper floors paint refresh and / or shop front improvements, maybe shutter art, new signage etc, then it’s easier to impress visiting would-be new occupiers and investors to take on those empties.
Tredegar is a good way into a major project on this with more steps in the pipeline. It doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about those empty units – and there’s promising signs on that already – but it will be more centre stage as we get to the start of the 2026 lettings season next spring.
It’d be great to hear if you think your town or city centre challenges might work with a similar approach timescale…
