Building back differently

摘要

Over the past few weeks, our town centres have been returning to life. Shoppers have flocked to the high streets, communities have enjoyed the reopening of hospitality and people are gravitating to the outdoor spaces in the hearts of our town centres. But, despite the positive impact of increased localism over the past 12 months, there are still challenges facing our towns and cities. For example, the question of how to repurpose the units left behind by large retailers is one that faces almost every high street. The call has been to 'build back better', and now local authorities have a real opportunity to build back differently. The pandemic has created a renaissance in localism that presents a chance for town centres to revive themselves, but only if they embrace the move towards mixed-use space, with a focus on independent businesses, and avoid falling back on tried and tested, cookie-cutter templates. Driving this positive change in communities and managing it effectively requires a two-pronged approach: pooling resources, skill and knowledge through long-term public-private partnerships, and engaging with the community to gather data to shape detailed masterplans, tailored to communities' differing wants and needs. Developing this understanding and using it to inform a cohesive vision is essential if the revival of our high streets and town centres is to be meaningful and long-lasting.