Pilot Partnerships for London’s High Streets
How can vacant commercial property be unlocked — to bring more affordable workspace and community and cultural uses to London’s high streets? What’s the role of partnership approaches?
Platform Places spent an inspiring morning at City Hall on Wednesday 4th of March, with Stour Trust, Unit 38, Wandsworth Town Property Partnership (WTPP), Footwork and the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Alongside others convened by the GLA, we explored the knotty challenges of unlocking vacant property and bringing more affordable workspace and community and cultural uses to London’s high streets.
Together in 2026, Platform Places is piloting a project with Stour Trust, WTPP and Footwork, to collectively:
develop and invest in three live high-street demonstrators: two focused on high streets in Wandsworth and Mile End, and one taking a borough-wide approach in Camden.
build momentum, leadership and learning towards replicating more partnership models across the capital’s town centres.
This is supported by the GLA, thanks to funding from the Mayor of London and UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as part of the Mayor of London's work to support more mission-driven use of property across the city's high streets.
From left to right: Brendan Conway (Wandsworth Town Property Partnership), Bex Trevalyan (Platform Places), Naomi Rubbra (Footwork), Shiza Naveed (Wandsworh Town Property Partnership), Juliet Can (Stour Trust), Jamie Hignett (Unit 38).
Are you an asset owner, council or funder who wants to support this approach — whether in these or other neighbourhoods?
