Feels on Brand’s Post

Our Chairman, Tim Jones’ latest article delves into the state of our high streets. 🛍️ Highlighting the trend of closures and dwindling footfall, Tim lays out the challenges of these essential community spaces. Between 2010 and 2020, 50,000 shops were lost, with around 17,000 closures in 2021 alone due to various factors, including COVID's impact, rising costs, and the dominance of online shopping. Throughout the article, Tim proposes solutions like the Bideford High Street project and emphasises the need for radical transformation. Integrating residential spaces, fostering vibrancy, and reimagining access could be key to revitalising these areas. 🔑 There are a number of small steps yet to be taken ahead, and no quick fixes, but this is a challenge the business community must work together to resolve. 🤝 Read the full article from Tim, here: https://lnkd.in/eBqFQSMi #HighStreetRevival #CommunityAction #LocalBusinesses #EconomicRevitalization  #Business #SouthWest #Innovation #Technology #BusinessSupport Paul Coles Andrew Searle Justin Olosunde FRGS Julie Hawker, MBE, FRSA Christine Allison Vicky Pope Jabo Butera Laurence Frewin Martin Williams Nick Buckland OBE Robin Teverson Philip Byers Sharron Robbie MBE Julian Gray lise hunter Catherine Mathews Paula Hewitt Liz Waugh

RE-Create the Space Specialized conversions create vibrant communities. Fitness centers, clinics, or educational hubs can change the urban landscape. These spaces foster community engagement and support. How can we best serve urban dwellers? A bit of research will uncover hidden opportunities. Buildings can then address specific local needs. Enhance urban living for everyone with this approach. Follow me for real estate (re)branding ideas. Ready to review your real estate brand? Here is a free tool to start the process — https://buff.ly/494UQtJ #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstateMarketing #Branding #PropertyBranding #RealEstateInnovation #CommunityDevelopment

Shouldn’t the focus simply be about getting more people into our town’s shops? That was a question that put me on the spot as we discussed the revitalisation of Letchworth town centre yesterday. My short answer was that our role is to get more people enjoying our town centres. Then shopkeepers can beckon them through their doors. My long answer is that to achieve that we need to understand and address the town’s current offer; it’s performance; business/customer perceptions and priorities; growth plans; how people travel to and around town; the appeal of the public realm; existing events and activities; the town’s image and how to improve it. And we need to get organised through coordinated activity; capacity building; good communications and monitoring success. At The People & Places Partnership Ltd. our route to achieve that is set-out in the Revitalising Town Centres Toolkit that we prepared for the Local Government Association. Get it right and more people will be walking towards cafes, shops, cinemas; museums; events! #towncentre #citycentre #placemaking #placebranding #stakeholderengagement

One building can spark positive change in an entire neighborhood! Thank you, Seth Kaplan for advocating for the neighborhood perspective, our engaging dialogue, and for sharing our thoughts. For us, #NeighborhoodMaking is an approach, rather than scale. It’s about seeing every element—whether a building, park, or street—as contributing to the neighborhood’s sense of belonging and identity. When these elements work together, they create social value that truly impacts where it matters most: our #neighborhoods, where we #live, raise our #children, and build our lives. #NeighborhoodMaking #SocialValue #NeighborhoodStrategies

Let's rethink how we build neighborhoods from the ground up. Instead of isolated suburban layouts, we have an opportunity to intentionally design connectivity into new communities through innovative shared spaces. One innovative feature we advocate for is the Post Kiosk or Mail Pavilion. Instead of rows of mailboxes, it serves as a central community hub. But these pavilions do more than distribute mail - they foster neighborly connections. Imagine a place where people collect letters, pause on a bench, and naturally interact with neighbors. This is how we intentionally build great communities - by designing spaces that bring people together. We're curious to hear your thoughts on designing connectivity in new neighborhoods. How else can we build community from the ground up? #newurbanism #traditionalneighborhoods #urbanplanning

Did you know the International Council of Shopping Centers released an industry insight that stated approximately 80% of U.S. adults are open to the idea of living in mixed-use communities? These communities, often described as live-work-shop-play environments, integrate entertainment, dining, professional, and recreational opportunities within a single locale. As the impact of the pandemic diminishes, the appeal of such communities is likely to grow due to an increased interest among individuals to reconnect with their communities and bolster local economies. Mixed-use developments not only meet diverse housing demands but also attract a broad spectrum of business tenants and residents, offering a comprehensive solution to urban development needs. #mixedusedevelopment #commercialrealestate #community

Need your input! How can existing Third Places be protected, and new ones encouraged to form? For context: #ThirdPlaces are distinct from the Home (First Place) and Work (Second Place). They're our gathering spots that are essential for facilitating social connectedness: coffee shops, libraries, gyms etc. Let us know your thoughts and we'll include your responses in a future post! #socialspaces #urbanplanning

Following Lindsey Ricciardelli lead and playing “Would you Rather?” 🤔 She focused on homebuilder marketing and sales. My question is about community design. Would you rather… 🔹 Build a community that emphasizes social connectivity, with communal spaces, co-working areas, and regular community events? OR 🔹 Focus on developing private, serene living environments where residents can enjoy solitude and quiet within a bustling urban area? You can only pick one. #communitydevelopment #mpc #homebuilding

Looking to enhance your leasing strategy? Treat leases as long-term commitments—5, 10, even 20 years—where every decision matters. Focus on the family demographic, the core spenders. Host engaging community events like Santa visits, Easter egg hunts, farmers markets, and live music. These activities not only attract families but also establish your center as a community hub, boosting foot traffic and tenant visibility. It's about more than just leasing space; it's about fostering a vibrant, connected community.  Follow for more leasing insights. 🏢💬  #LeasingStrategy #CommunityEvents #TenantEngagement #FamilyFriendly #RetailLeasing #CommunityBuilding #EventMarketing #PropertyManagement #LongTermPlanning #BusinessStrategy

The departure of major department stores like House of Fraser and Debenhams from our high streets marks a critical pivot in the evolution of town centres. This shift away from traditional retail demands we rethink and reshape these spaces to prioritise community cohesion, liveability, wellbeing, and sustainability. These elements are crucial not only for enhancing quality of life but also for attracting footfall. As traditional shopping habits change, our town centres must adapt to become community hubs where commerce is just one aspect of social and cultural experiences. This transformation is essential for sustaining economic vitality and community spirit in the face of evolving consumer behaviours and urban dynamics. As recent high street reports suggest, enhancing these aspects is not merely beneficial but essential for attracting and maintaining footfall. A busy, multifunctional town centre that caters to a wider range of needs and interests can draw more visitors and residents, fostering a thriving urban environment where people choose to spend their time and engage with their community. This evolution is crucial for our town centres to remain relevant and prosperous in a changing economic landscape. Eden Mobility in our town centre is doing a great job of bringing the community together. They host weekly community coffee mornings where the general public is invited into the store for coffee, biscuits, and friendly chats. The coffee mornings in Grimsby are very popular, and I've been invited to attend a meeting in a few weeks to share updates on the regeneration projects and some good news stories. I love this initiative because it brings the community together in the town centre to share stories and support each other during tough times.