Stories of communities working to create vibrant and resilient high streets that serve local needs and aspirations.
Department
Ryde on the Isle of Wight has a rich cultural and artistic history - with one of the UK’s oldest carnivals taking place in the town. Shademakers UK are helping to tell the story of Ryde’s creative past by restoring a 300-year-old former department store. They are very hopeful that the project will create pride in the area and bring more people to the town centre.
Sparks
When a flagship department store closed in Bristol, two local organisations took on a mission to revive the building and help regenerate the city centre. Sparks, the reimagined department store, opened in 2023. With more than 750,000 visitors to date, they’ve made a significant impact on their community by creating a vibrant space for everyone and attracting new people and businesses to the area.
Haven Community Hub
Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of the popular seaside city of Southend-on-Sea. Westcliff is undergoing an exciting transformation, emerging as a thriving hub for businesses and a vibrant destination for the Southend community. Central to this is the community-led revival of a historic department store.
Dewsbury Arcade
In 2016, a Victorian Arcade in Dewsbury closed after the number of shoppers fell drastically. Dewsbury Arcade remained empty for seven years. Now, a community is determined to refurbish the Grade II listed site and inspire further investment in Dewsbury. They want to create the UK’s first community-run shopping arcade and pave the way for the transformation of the town centre.
The Anstice
Former working men’s club turned proud community hub.
Southern Maltings: Ware Arts Centre
Bustling arts centre in building that stretches back to 1839.
Future Yard
A brand new community venue in one of the country’s most deprived wards exists as a template for how contemporary music venues can be run while proudly proclaiming: The Future is Birkenhead.
Hastings Commons
White Rock Neighbourhood Ventures are transforming derelict buildings in Hastings.
Radcliffe Market Hall
Breathing new life into an old market town.
Station South
An old train station connecting communities once again
Good Things Collective
A seaside hub bringing great ideas to life
Into Bodmin
A historic building turned cultural facility drawing visitors to the high street.
Chopwell Regeneration Group
Saving the local high street and supporting local people.
YES Brixham
Supporting local young people to become independent.
Future Wolverton
Transforming a grade II listed school house into a community hub for a commuter town.
Nudge Community Builders
When traditional regeneration initiatives failed to deliver, residents decided to nudge their main street back to life, one building at a time.
Upper Norwood Library
A 100-year-old community owned library launching a network for their peers.