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Expert Opinion

From ruin to revival: creating a future for retail

Partnerships and imagination can solve retail's 'empty lots' problem
James Woodard. (Hartnell Taylor Cook)
James Woodard. (Hartnell Taylor Cook)
By James Woodard
Hartnell Taylor Cook
August 8, 2025 | 1:21 P.M.

The decline of retail is a well-trodden discussion, with fingers often pointed towards high insolvency figures and the collapse of household names as proof points for a sector in peril. However, this pulls attention away from a unique transformation that is taking place on our high streets. Across the UK, vacant retail spaces are being reimagined in ways that not only preserve buildings but actively restore vibrancy to local communities and economies.

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