Community-led High Street Innovators
We’re collaborating with a small number of community businesses to test and learn how community-led high street regeneration projects can be a model for communities everywhere.
Testing solutions for community-led high street renewal
The Community-Led High Street Innovators is testing how community-led action can revitalise high streets and town centres across England.
The project supports community businesses to develop their work on the high street, using community-led approaches to regenerate their local places. It focuses on communities taking space on high streets and increasing their role in decision-making about their local high street or town centre.
Meet the innovators
Artspace Lifespace
Location: Bristol
Dewsbury Arcade Group
Location: Dewsbury
MadLab
Location: Stockport
Make LCR
Location: Birkenhead
Southmead Development Trust
Location: Bristol
What we learnt
Over 12 months, the Community-Led High Street Innovators explored different models for community involvement over their high streets. This included creating a Commercial Property Database and Vacant Property Toolkit, testing new policy powers like High Street Rental Auctions, and exploring alternative approaches to cultural placemaking to avoid extractive town centre regeneration.
We used an evidence-gathering framework to understand the barriers communities face in high street regeneration. We found the civic high street to be the right organising principle for the shift toward mixed-use, community-centred high streets – places for care, learning, enterprise, culture, connection and everyday participation. ‘The new high street playbook’ surfaces practical lessons on space, governance, finance and stewardship, showing that stronger community roles in shaping, ownership and stewardship are essential for transforming our high streets and town centres.
In the coming months, we’re developing a practical toolkit for communities and local partners. Register your interest to hear about it.
Shaping high streets policy
To strengthen this emerging evidence, a High Street Policy Reference Group will bring together a network of policymakers and influencers, funders and experts to explore complex issues of high street and town centre regeneration and promoting community-led development. Through quarterly meetings, the group members will share best practice and research, develop policy ideas and recommendations, and contribute to the emerging evidence from the Community-Led High Street Innovators.
Get inspired
Stories from communities breathing life back into places.
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