@platformplaces
Unlocking town centre buildings for amazing ideas 🔑 Co-founding partners: High Streets Task Force, Power to Change, British Property Federation, New Local, Radix, Shoosmiths https://www.platformplaces.com/
🏘️ With the National Retrofit Hub we launched 'The Role of Community Health Impact Assessments (CHIA) for Retrofit', a workbook for community organisers and policy/strategy designers working on retrofit at scale.
🔗 nationalretrofithub.org.uk/resource/the...
cc @impurbanhealth.bsky.social
Across England, community organisations are acquiring buildings as long-term tools for social justice & ecological resilience 🏘️
So, what does it take to start the journey from one precarious lease (or no space at all) to a portfolio that transforms a neighbourhood?
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Join our team! 💫
We're looking for an experienced, creative & hands-on comms specialist to work with #PlatformPlaces & @footworktrust.bsky.social.
You'll develop our bold narratives & inspiring content that help drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation: www.platformplaces.com/news/recruit...
Join our team! 💫
We're looking for an experienced, creative & hands-on comms specialist to work with #PlatformPlaces & @footworktrust.bsky.social.
You'll develop our bold narratives & inspiring content that help drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation: www.platformplaces.com/news/recruit...
Read more in our article for the Winter issue of STIR, exploring inspiration & how-tos, from Leicester & London to Bristol & Sheffield:
#CommunityAssets #MycelialNetwork #StirToAction
www.stirtoaction.com/articles/pla...
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1️⃣ Build your partnership – the groundwork is relational.
2️⃣ Secure funds (pre-development, capital, revenue)– and rarely does it all arrive at once!
3️⃣ Negotiate your first space(s) – whether social value lease, peppercorn rent, or asset transfer
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Across England, community organisations are acquiring buildings as long-term tools for social justice & ecological resilience 🏘️
So, what does it take to start the journey from one precarious lease (or no space at all) to a portfolio that transforms a neighbourhood?
1/ 🧵
What shifts when communities own multiple buildings — not just one? 🏘️
“Scaling brings resilience,” says Angie Wright (b inspired, Braunstone). “It brings deeper impact, with an interconnected network of spaces that support each other.”
Explore our new article for #StirToAction ⬇️
Do parades & arcades get enough attention when we talk high streets & community assets?🏘️🛍️
This story-led report by Popular for @iconeighbours.bsky.social spotlights these hubs for retail, community & connection - and the local organisations in 5 places who've revived them to serve local needs 🌱
🎉 Announcing the People & Place: Camden community innovators!
🏘️ These 9 groups & individuals are transforming Camden’s neighbourhoods by bringing buildings & spaces to life.
💪 They join our 2026 support programme, in collaboration with @camdencouncil.bsky.social
Meet them & their project ideas ⬇️
What could help make more Nudges possible? Community businesses often struggle to get money quickly, to buy properties when they become available. Pre-agreed financing has been essential for Nudge but a more agile facility to fund community buyouts is needed.
📝 New blog out today from Louise Cross at Make CIC, sharing learning from testing High Street Rental Auctions in Birkenhead. Key insight: HSRAs can catalyse change but are just one tool among many. Real progress involves relationships, community insight & practical support. Read now: buff.ly/P3wxuvY
🔔 From grassroots to government, the message is clear: communities should lead the revival of high street property & councils are key enablers 🔑
CPOs are one possible lever, but we know a growing number of developers & landlords working *with* communities to activate assets for social impact.
Kindred LCR leads one of the five pilot #LocalPropertyPartnerships (supported by @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk), reimagining underutilised buildings into hubs for socially-trading organisations in Knowsley and St Helens: platformplaces.com/programme
✨ Geographical clusters of socially-trading organisations = greater impact ✨
@kindredlcr.bsky.social's figures speak for themselves. 70% job growth. 420K people supported.
Social investment is powering real change in Liverpool CR. And unlocking buildings, with a place-based approach, is key 🔑
What shifts when communities own multiple buildings — not just one? 🏘️
“Scaling brings resilience,” says Angie Wright (b inspired, Braunstone). “It brings deeper impact, with an interconnected network of spaces that support each other.”
Explore our new article for #StirToAction ⬇️
It’s already planting seeds:
🌱 Housing associations are emerging as strong allies
🌱 Private asset owners are engaging in dialogue
🌱 Councils are supporting in diverse ways
Explore what’s been happening, with practical tips to try in your neighbourhood 💡 ⬇️
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In 5 neighbourhoods – from Darnall Ward to Wandsworth Town – community leaders are creating Local Property Partnerships to unlock multiple spaces for community use & ownership.
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"We’ve come together with a deep focus on care and cultural equity, decentralising power and financial flow" - Kisha Bradley, Brightbox
It's not just about bricks and mortar 🧱
Transforming buildings for local benefit is about who's at the table, and how you're working together 🍲
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It's captured in our most popular e-resource, co-created by the asset owners & socially-trading organisation leaders behind #PlatformPlaces:
🔸Principles for working together
🔸Template Heads of Terms for a social impact agreement, drafted by Shoosmiths
Last year we spotlighted Mayday Saxonvale's inspirational story, when they secured the sale from Somerset Council after a five-year effort: www.platformplaces.com/inspiration/...
Now they've secured £1.2M and are launching a community share offer to take the next steps ✨
Find out more ⬇️
"For property owners, this means thinking beyond yield and asset appreciation," writes our non-exec director and ambassador Ion Fletcher (British Property Federation).
"It means understanding that long-term value depends on local trust, on places people are proud to live and work in."
Read more ⬇️
Around the UK, communities are reviving historic buildings for social, cultural & community uses, often with climate benefits.
Our friends @archhfund.org.uk have supported this for ⭐ 50 yrs ⭐ & we're delighted to see UK Gov' recognise the importance of this work.
#AHFF50 @memckeague.bsky.social
⏰ Application Deadline: 4th February ⏰
Are you an organised, community-minded person who loves making things happen?
Are you connected to Bedminster, Bristol, with a passion for community-led property?
Join #BedminsterWorks as a Programme Coordinator: bedminsterworks.co.uk/news-and-ins...
"I think it’s now fair to call it a movement, or - maybe better - a field of civic renewal."
Thanks for the mention @jamestplunkett.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social alongside some amazing demonstrators, advocates, programmes & campaigners in the ecosystem of locally-led neighbourhood transformation.
📍 Do you have vacant space for a community organisation? Or introductions and support for funding? 🗺️
Check out our latest round of matchmaking requests from the #PlatformPlaces network ⤵️
For an intro, please send us a private message here or on our webform: platformplaces.com/contact
Who's leading the revitalisation of our high streets? 👀
Across England, pioneers like Nudge Community Builders are showing the way 🌱
Great to see them recognised in the Guardian, with @powertochange.org.uk's research showing deep connection between decline of social infrastructure & polarisation.
If you've got empty / underused spaces available, or need a space for your organisation, let us know for the next Platform Places newsletter! 📨
#PropertyMatchMaking #CommunityPower #HighStreets #TownCentreProperty
📍 Do you have vacant space for a community organisation? Or introductions and support for funding? 🗺️
Check out our latest round of matchmaking requests from the #PlatformPlaces network ⤵️
For an intro, please send us a private message here or on our webform: platformplaces.com/contact
Big River Bakery leads 1 of 5 pilot #LocalPropertyPartnerships (funded by @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk). This is an exciting time to help them grow a new CIC & create a network of interconnected high street spaces for food, arts & start-up businesses.
Find out more: www.vonne.org.uk/vonne-jobs-d... 2/🧵