The high street is undergoing major changes due to shifts in shopping and working habits, leading to reduced demand for physical retail space. In 2024, over 13,000 stores closed, with projections of nearly 17,500 more closures in 2025, resulting in significant job losses. Major department stores like Debenhams and House of Fraser have been heavily affected. With vacancy rates averaging 13.8%, the government has introduced initiatives like High Street Rental Auctions to repurpose empty units.
Town centres are evolving into social and experiential hubs rather than purely retail spaces. Lichfields is actively supporting this transformation through redevelopment projects and its Revitalise Toolkit. A growing trend in this shift is the use of “meanwhile uses” — temporary solutions until permanent uses are found. The Insight Focus explores recent examples, including those managed by Lichfields, highlighting the drivers, types, and best practices for successful implementation.
