Yesterday, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP announced the launch of a new trial project, which aims to support the changing face of the high street by welcoming community groups to make use of vacant spaces.
The Open Doors project in partnership with the Meanwhile Foundation, will allow community groups transform their town centres by renovating unused retail units and making them fit for purpose. The government has suggested that spaces could be used for small group activities like book clubs or after school activities for young people.
This project feeds into the government’s wider ambitions to transform our high streets. The hope is that this partnership will help tackle social problems linked to declining high streets such as crime, unemployment and loneliness. The confirmed locations that will be part of the scheme are Stoke-on-Trent, Bradford, Rochford, Kettering and Slough.