Last July we had our final Expert Panel meeting which was also the first time the majority of us met in person for the first time. As chair, I’m proud of the excellent insight and professionalism the panel has provided over the last 18 months. We started the panel just as the pandemic hit, and over this time the built environment landscape has undergone considerable challenges but has also adapted positively. 

 

The panel has discussed topics such as flexibility and partnerships, the future of local areas, the right uses in the right places, retrofitting, and net zero for hotels and retail. And finally in the last meeting we discussed polycentric cities, the mix of high streets and the environmental challenges. 

 

The consensus is that hybrid working is here to stay, which has provided opportunities to connect with our local neighbourhood. People want to see something different, not replica high streets and streets which have their own identity. Ealing Council, for example, is exploring the 20-min neighbourhood and has a highstreets taskforce to bring together BIDs. While the City of Westminster is looking more at their high streets strategically and is offering a 70% business rate reduction if landlords/retailers offer community uses. One of the key challenges is how we can create a sustainable and vibrant vision for our high streets, with a civic mission, curation, and stewardship. 

 

Looking ahead to other topics for our high streets, adding to the fragmented nature of ownership on high streets, voids are a big problem – it is predicted that 300 million square feet of space will be oversubscribed by 2030. We also discussed the opportunities for retail conversions to residential, the challenges of quality and the right mix of uses on high streets. 

 

From a personal perspective, I have really enjoyed the debate and discussion over the last 18 months, and I am really excited about meeting a new cohort within the panel and contributing to the New London Agenda.