🌸Welcome to the March HighStreetPositives Newsletter! 🌸

Thank you for reading this month’s edition! We’re so glad you’re here. Sharing positive stories about our high streets truly makes a difference. By celebrating vibrant businesses, community efforts, and local innovation, we can change the narrative - encouraging more footfall, investment, and pride in our town centres.

These stories aren’t just good PR. They create places people want to visit, driving further investment and inspiring new ideas. It’s a powerful way to support our communities and help our high streets thrive.

Feel free to share this newsletter, invite others to subscribe, and reach out if you’d like to collaborate, chat, or get involved in future events!

‘The High Street is Dying’ They said…However…

There are loads of positive news stories from high streets across the UK. Here's a selection of highlights , celebrating new store openings, regeneration projects, and other positive developments. Thank you so much for all your contributions.

• Superdrug plans to open 25 new stores in 2025, creating around 600 jobs, while also refurbishing 65 locations and expanding in prime areas like Guernsey and Bristol.

• Harrogate is buzzing with exciting events and new openings: the Harrogate Dog Show returns to the Piazza area on April 12th, the Harrogate Celebration of Fashion takes place on May 17th, and new stores like Sosandar, The Fragrance Store, and Sostrene Grene are opening in the town centre.

• B&M Bargains is set to open in the former Wilko unit at Carlisle's Market Hall in May.

• Campus Skateboarding, a Bristol-based, skater-owned, not-for-profit organisation, has transformed the vacant former Debenhams store in Broadmead, Bristol into "Shredenhams," a vibrant skatepark, café, and bar, which officially opened this month.

• Urban Outfitters is set to open its first store in Cork, Ireland, at the former Dorothy Perkins location on St. Patrick’s Street.

• Celebrity chef Tony Singh plans to open a new café and apartments in Edinburgh’s West Tollcross, aiming to rejuvenate the area with modern living spaces and a community-focused café.

• Arne, the minimalist clothing and footwear brand, will open its first physical store at Liverpool ONE’s Peter’s Lane in July 2025, following successful pop-ups and interactive activation.

• Anna & Nina, a Dutch brand offering eclectic fashion, jewellery, and home accessories, and Jacques Marie Mage, the luxury eyewear brand, have both launched their first UK shops on Chiltern Street, in London.

• ​Søstrene Grene, now with 47 UK stores to date, is on track to reach 100 stores by 2027 - three years ahead of schedule! They have just opened a flagship UK store on Argyll Street, near Oxford Circus, in a vacant Oasis unit, showcasing their Scandinavian-inspired homewares, furniture, and arts and crafts.

• Hyatt is expanding its UK portfolio with recent investments in Leeds city centre, including Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. Upcoming openings include Hyatt Place London Paddington and Hyatt Regency London Olympia, creating 250 new jobs.

• Morleys Stores, a family-owned department store group, currently with six locations, is opening in Bath’s historic Jolly’s department store in spring 2026 after essential restorative works.

• Grimsby's new Community Diagnostic Centre in Freshney Place Shopping Centre is set to enhance healthcare accessibility. Opening later this month, it will offer approximately 120,000 appointments annually.

• The first phase of Chesterfield Market’s multi-million-pound revamp is complete, featuring new paving, bespoke stalls, and improved infrastructure. Phase two will enhance accessibility and create a flexible space for events. Funded by the Levelling Up Fund, the project aims to revitalise the town centre while supporting local traders and events.

• LINK has recommended 19 new banking hubs across the UK, bringing the total to 224, with 128 currently operational. These hubs provide essential banking services, ensuring access for communities affected by Bank branch closures

• Dorking is thriving with good news. Food Float, a community interest company, celebrated 15 years of supporting local producers and connecting the town to its market heritage. Sorrel retained its Michelin Star for the 8th year, while comedian Romesh Ranganathan drew crowds at Coughlans Bakery. Exciting events, including a Shakespeare walk and new openings, promise even more vibrancy in the coming months.

• A €40 million investment has brought a new 177-room Radisson RED hotel to Galway’s city centre.

• Gosforth Shopping Centre has been rebranded as Gosforth Central, transforming into a vibrant hub for independent retailers. Recent openings include Pure Knead bakery, DE:CO home décor, and Pique South American restaurant.

• Sunderland’s high street is buzzing with new openings, including Ashbrooke Home and Crave at the recently renovated Mackie’s Corner. Ashbrooke Home expands its floristry offering with homewares, while Crave brings fresh lunch options.

• Theatre production Keep On Keepin’ On tours Crewe, Blackburn, and Blackpool, using comedy to spark conversations on high street revitalisation. Partnering with The Vacant Shops Academy, local BIDs, and retailers, it explores how culture can drive footfall, resilience, and innovation, helping town centres adapt and thrive in a changing landscape.

• Feverfish, a British women’s fashion brand known for its vintage-inspired styles, has opened its first physical store at The Chimes in Uxbridge in April 2025.

The Social Power of Bookshops: How They’re Thriving on Our High Streets

Bookshops are enjoying a revival, proving they’re far more than just places to buy books. Independent shops like the Book Bar in Islington have embraced the social side of reading, offering spaces where people can gather over coffee, wine, and stories. With a second location opening in Chelsea, its community-focused concept is expanding.

Meanwhile, Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, is set to launch Two Tales in Durham, a pop-up dedicated to children’s literature. Located in the former FatFace store at Prince Bishops Place, the space will feature immersive exhibits, interactive storytelling, and workshops designed to engage families and promote reading for pleasure. Seven Stories, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, already attracts over 75,000 visitors annually and is renowned for championing children’s literature.

Younger generations are driving the uptick in demand for physical book shop retail, with 49% of Gen Z preferring in-person book recommendations and 80% choosing print over digital books, according to Nielsen BookData. Platforms like BookTok have further amplified this interest, inspiring visits to bookshops for readings, signings, and book clubs.

Charity bookshops are also thriving, offering affordable books while supporting good causes. The Shakespeare Hospice bookshop in Stratford-upon-Avon, which underwent a refit last year and is being currently repainted, is a gem on Rother Street, with records, DVDs, a children’s reading area, and a welcoming community space.

Larger chains are expanding too, with Waterstones opening 12 new stores in 2024 and more planned this year. Iconic bookshops like Hatchards (1797) in London and Hodges Figgis (1768) in Dublin have thrived for over two centuries, demonstrating their resilience and offering something no algorithm can replicate - community, history, and connection.

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA’s) - Bringing Empty Shops back to life

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) are a government initiative aimed at tackling long-term vacant shops. Introduced in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the scheme was officially launched in December 2024. It gives councils the power to auction off leases for properties that have been empty for over a year, encouraging local businesses, independents, and community projects to breathe life back into town centres.

The first councils to adopt the scheme were Bassetlaw, Darlington, and Mansfield, setting the stage for others to follow. Now, eight more councils - Barnsley, Broxtowe, Camden, Hillingdon, Lichfield, North Northamptonshire, North Somerset, and Westminster - have signed up, using the powers to drive economic growth and revitalise their high streets.

HSRAs are designed to cut through the red tape that can often stall progress, providing a more streamlined route to bringing vacant spaces back into use. By offering flexible opportunities for local businesses and initiatives, these auctions have the potential to reshape the face of town centres.

It will be interesting to see how these powers work in practice as councils put them to the test. With more authorities expected to join, HSRAs are proving to be a practical solution to address vacancies, support small businesses, and create thriving town centres once again.

There’s lots of information available if you want to learn more. I’d recommend Ben Stephenson’s High Street Rental Auctions Support Network on LinkedIn for regular updates and insights, and the official government sources for detailed guidance.

From Towns to Neighbourhoods: What the £1.5 Billion Plan Means for Communities

The UK Government’s £1.5 billion Long Term Plan for Towns has been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods, focusing on broader neighbourhood improvements rather than just town centres. Under this plan, 75 towns will each receive £20 million over 10 years to address local priorities and support regeneration.

The 75 selected areas were chosen through a process that considered local need and regeneration potential, with final decisions made by central government officials in collaboration with local authorities.

This funding aims to improve local services, create green spaces, enhance transport links, and support community facilities and small businesses. The hope is that these investments will stimulate broader economic and social improvements in both town centres and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Chris Wade, with his extensive experience in supporting towns and local partnerships, explains that the neighbourhood focus aims to create prosperity across entire areas, fostering a “trickle-up” effect that benefits town centres.

Emma Forbes highlights the importance of ensuring these projects have long-term sustainability, encouraging councils to invest in initiatives that can continue to provide benefits beyond the initial funding.

The Plan for Neighbourhoods marks a shift in government policy towards a more community-led approach, with local councils and residents expected to play a key role in shaping and delivering the plans.

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Chris Wade and Emma Forbes for their insights. Read More on this in Chris Wades Newsletter and in Emma Forbes Blog .

High Street Site Opportunities: Criteria and Locations

The Requirement List is a database of active retail & leisure property requirements, used by the majority of the retail property market.

Below are a handful of recent requirements added to the site:

• Amber Taverns are looking for High Street opportunities of 2,000 sq.ft +. You can view their target town list here. They pay £15,000 finders fees for successful introductions. 

• The mexican grill chain, Chiptole, are looking to ramp up their UK growth and are targeting Zone 1, London. View further information here

• Cotton Traders continues to prioritise growth in 2025. Having recently opened in Maidstone, Lewes, Dorchester and Gloucester they are seeking properties in similar towns. View their requirement flyer here

• With 800+ stores nationwide, Holland & Barrett are hunting for new stores in prime locations. They are considering High Streets, Shopping Centres, Retail Parks and Transport Hubs. View further information here

• Burger & Beyond are seeking nationwide expansion. Target towns include Manchester, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham & more. View more info here

• The independent gifts, homeware and lifestyle retailer, Vinegar Hill is seeking properties between 1,000 - 2,000 sq ft. Target towns include Lymington, Market Harborough, Marlow, Newbury & more. View their full list of target towns here

Does your business need to know who's active in the market? You can view more active retail & leisure property requirements here. Use the High Street Positives promo code 'HSP' at the checkout for 10% off your subscription.   

Thank you for reading this edition of the HighStreetPositives Monthly newsletter!

• Please follow HighStreetPositives on LinkedIn and on Instagram

• Share and recommend us to others who might be interested.

• And finally, if you have any news, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Thank you so much!! 💕