Supporting Historic High Streets: Changing Visions for High Streets 5

Looking at how to address the changing role of high streets, the value of mixed uses, and the importance of place-making, the fifth of five linked webinars (10, 17 and 24 June, 30 Sept and 4 November 2021).

Well before the pandemic, the High Street’s battle against out-of-town and online shopping was in full flow, and ideas about adding leisure activities and a wider range of experiences and uses were coming to the fore. High streets have always reflected our built and social heritage – attracting trade and customers to the latest places, and creating centres to share ideas or just people-watch. Yet in recent years, the characteristics of ‘clone towns’ predominated, with towns vying for the same high street chains to take retail space.

With the radical shift in footfall and spending patterns in 2020-21, the pace of change in town centres has accelerated, bringing a huge challenge to most town and city centres. Yet the public realm and heritage assets have acquired new value and status, and the importance of place-making for everyone is evident.

This webinar series will look these opportunities and potential threats, and aim to rethink the role of town centre retail space and how to bring life back to historic high streets.

Delegates will learn about:

• Strategies being adopted by local councils, land owners and developers to manage this shifting market
• The role of community-led cultural activities in attracting people back to high streets
• The range of other uses taking up vacant shop units and city centre buildings to bring change
• The role of local heritage assets and social history in reclaiming ‘clone’ towns, and
• The 2020 changes to Use Classes introducing far greater flexibility in town centre uses and activity.

Speakers on Thursday 4 November 2021 12-2pm:

• Welcome, Louise Thomas, HTVF Director
• Introduction, Chair – Kate Martyn, Associate Director, Donald Insall Associates
• Restoring Bobby’s Department Store in Bournemouth, Ashley Nicholson, Director, Verve Properties
• Repurposing the Department Store, Daniel Morgans, Associate Director, Chapman Taylor
• Castle House, Sheffield: Necessity as the mother of invention, Nick Morgan, Director, Kollider
• Broad Street, Oxford: rethinking a public space, Ted Maxwell, Regeneration Officer, Oxford City Council.

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