Repurposing Vacant Space. Bringing buildings back into effective use (WPD Policy Brief)

The retail sector is experiencing unprecedented change, caused by shifts in shopping behaviour, multiples downsizing their portfolios and withdrawing from urban centres and business failure, compounded by the covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, the number of vacant units in city centres has risen signifi-cantly, raising questions about how to fill the subsequent empty space. This Policy Brief is a summary of a study which examined the repurposing of under-used and vacant retail space. The study formed part of a wider retail research project conducted across the retailing cores of five regionally significant cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Liverpool and Nottingham). The wider project aimed to better understand the adaptive capacity and resilience of city centres. The study’s findings are intended to support policymakers charged with managing urban centres, property owners and occupiers, and property management professionals by making ix recommendations to aid the recovery of city centres through successful repurposing schemes