📣 Heading to #LabourPartyConference? Join us for A symbol of a British renaissance: the civic high street. Delighted that Leigh Ingham MP will be joining the panel alongside Chris Curtis MP, Laura Onita (FT), Jo Cooper (Back on the Map), chaired by @jesscraig.bsky.social 👇️ buff.ly/oS3VrwF

A symbol of a British renaissance: the civic high street

Across the country, communities are bringing high streets back to life. What will it take to make the civic high street the norm, not the exception?

buff.ly

Some very nice people sharing their eclipse glasses at Westminster Bridge!

The second high streets announcement from the new administration, alongside business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues. Suggests growing recognition that policy needs to shift us away from retail-dominated model. But this must be start of something bigger.

Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops

Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland

theguardian.com

We welcome today's announcement - and the emphasis on giving communities a real say in how their neighbourhoods, #highstreets and shared assets are run. We know this is key to a high street that builds pride, connection, and serves local need: https://bit.ly/4wq4gv5

Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops

Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland

bit.ly

This is very good Continually tweaking business rates does not make a high street thrive. Reimagining it as a civic space - for communities to meet, for public service delivery, and for good housing and work - can.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 2mo ago

How to save the British high street ft.trib.al/Gep6DvU | opinion

Really enjoyed writing this for @renewaljournal.bsky.social Andy Burnham made restoring a sense of hope a key facet of his Makerfield campaign and rise to No10. If he wants to keep the good vibes going, he can turn hope into something tangible on the high street.

Renewal@renewaljournal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Next up: @jesscraig.bsky.social argues for reviving high streets by restoring their civic function

My pitch for Andy Burnham's ministerial reshuffle this week in @labourlist.bsky.social: appoint a Minister for the High Street. labourlist.org/2026/07/a-mi...

'Is it time for Labour to appoint a Minister for the High Street?' - LabourList

Labour wants to demonstrate tangible improvements in people's lives before the next election. They should have a minister for the high street to do so.

labourlist.org

Interesting idea posed by Angela Rayner in the New Statesman to give mayors CPO powers (which councils, notably, already have) to take on delinquent landlords. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2026...

Andy Burnham clearly understands the role pubs, shops and social clubs have in our shared life – he’s based his campaign out of one. But while high business rates are part of the declining picture of Britain’s high streets, they're by no means the full picture. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Burnham pledges to review NICs increase and cut business rates for pubs

Labour candidate in Makerfield byelection says party has ‘got it wrong on small businesses’

theguardian.com

#HighStreets can be more than just retail - they can be places for connection, culture & community power. Our new Civic High Street briefing sets out 5 practical steps to unlock this vision. Read 👉 https://bit.ly/4o0eekg ✍️ @jesscraig.bsky.social

🧵 1/4 High streets are more than shops. They’re civic spaces for culture, learning and connection. 🚨 Today, we publish ‘The high street playbook’, sharing lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Quick read: buff.ly/FEQKij1 #HighStreets

The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action - Power to Change

The 'new high street playbook' shares lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Connecting real wo ...

powertochange.org.uk

ICYMI: Govt announced £300m+ to fund High Street Innovation Partnerships & last week @jesscraig.bsky.social dug into learning from our Community Led High Street Innovators project - showing how communities can deliver long-term, meaningful regeneration of the high street👇 https://bit.ly/4s1a7Vb

Putting communities at the centre of new High Street Innovation Partnerships - Power to Change

The government has announced over £300m to fund High Street Innovation Partnerships. Learning from our Community Led High Street Innovators projects demonst ...

bit.ly

Over the weekend the government announced £301m(!) for High Streets Innovation Partnerships to help communities 'reimagine and revive struggling high streets and make them fit for the future': www.gov.uk/government/n...

High streets revived and children given safe places to play

New initiative will support local areas to reimagine and revive their struggling high streets

gov.uk

A longing for ‘how things used to be’ threatens progress to reimagining the high street. But creative heritage-led regeneration ushers in a brighter future. @jesscraig.bsky.social shares reflections fresh from a visit to the community-run, historic Dewsbury Arcade: https://bit.ly/40I0HmB

I've written something about nostalgia and the high street, and how heritage-led regeneration can bridge the gap between where places have been and where we're going. Bonus photo of me and colleagues in awe at those beams. www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...

Old buildings and new realities - Power to Change

A longing for ‘how things used to be’ threatens progress to reimagining the high street. But creative heritage-led regeneration ushers in a brighter future. ...

powertochange.org.uk

Jess Craig@jesscraig.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Lovely day in Dewsbury yesterday with @powertochange.org.uk and our community-led high street innovator cohort visiting Dewsbury Arcade. This summer it reopens to the public for the first time in a decade, now council owned and community run . Look at those beams!

Lovely day in Dewsbury yesterday with @powertochange.org.uk and our community-led high street innovator cohort visiting Dewsbury Arcade. This summer it reopens to the public for the first time in a decade, now council owned and community run . Look at those beams!

The Business and Trade committee published its report on the Small Business Strategy yesterday. V pleased to see it highlight the role of community business in high street regeneration and adopt @powertochange.org.uk recommendation for funding to support the introduction of Community Right to Buy

Had a great day visiting the fantastic @nudgecommunity.bsky.social with civil servants and @powertochange.org.uk to discuss all things community ownership and high street regeneration. Come for a look around… (🧵)

Also absolutely *right* that Epstein's victims were acknowledged when all the political intrigue over Mandelson/the threat to the PM's position seems to have slightly lost sight of them. I can't say it better than this: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Never forget Epstein’s little helpers – the powerful men who knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway | Marina Hyde

I’m sorry, but this is not just a political scandal. Time to refocus on the horrific mistreatment of women and girls, and the role of these ghouls, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

theguardian.com

Jess Craig@jesscraig.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Very likely the PM's speech today will be remembered more for his apology on Mandelson but good nonetheless to hear Pride in Place is being extended to 40 more places.

Very likely the PM's speech today will be remembered more for his apology on Mandelson but good nonetheless to hear Pride in Place is being extended to 40 more places.

Have seen this take a lot and really disagree. Gov’t could invest in anchor institutions for towns; build FE colleges in town centres; set up childcare co-ops; retrofit iconic buildings and make them into community gyms, etc. We are more than individual consumers - that’s the point of politics!

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Sorry to sound so grumpy but this has the same vibe as people moaning about the state of public services at the same time as not wanting to pay more in tax. What's any government (right or left) supposed to do when people don't go shopping or to pubs as much as they used to - and never will again?

There's lots of commentary going around on the state of the high street and what Labour can do to fix it. With the welcome news that the government plans to publish a high streets strategy later in the year, I've written a deeper dive on what that strategy should be about. 🧵https://bit.ly/4q8NH3E

🏬 Important coverage today on the state of Britain’s high streets. @drjennings.bsky.social's research finds people who feel their local area has declined are more pessimistic about the future + Reform supporters are most likely to report decline: buff.ly/UcFpKkQ @michaelgoodier.bsky.social

Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds

Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against Westminster

theguardian.com

Good, important work by @drjennings.bsky.social and co. Reading the piece, striking how often the debate gets confused between the future of retail and the future of our high streets. Government's High Street Strategy, announced yesterday, seems to be focused on the former, not the latter.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 8mo ago

Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds

@jesscraig.bsky.social explores for @labourlist.bsky.social how Community Investment Zones could transform the future of our high streets—bring life back to local economies, support small businesses & create vibrant, community-led spaces: bit.ly/48EGocX

'Britain’s high streets need Community Investment Zones' - LabourList

Community Investment Zones would give communities the tools to realise the next era of our high streets and town centres.

bit.ly

Last night we launched our essay collection at @britishacademy.bsky.social with a bumper panel reflecting ideas from @jamestplunkett.bsky.social describing rewilding as a metaphor for civic renewal to @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social imagining how future data centres could be owned by communities.

1/4 Today we've published our new essay collection. 'From the ground up: Community business & Britain’s next decade' marks a decade of progress for community business and Power to Change and presents bold ideas for a brighter, more connected future: buff.ly/XiNc26W

The Cloudflare outage currently prevents me from sharing the wonderful new @powertochange.org.uk essay collection we're launching today. BUT if you'd like to get your hands on an old fashioned paper copy come along to our launch event tonight Info/sign up: powertochange.typeform.com/to/L2W7DYk9?...

Power to Change essay collection launch event

Please RSVP to our essay collection launch event.

powertochange.typeform.com

I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.

Power to Change@powertochange.org.uk · 12mo ago

📖 @npjgarland.bsky.social pens our next 10-year anniversary essay, exploring the history of past regeneration efforts to help guide today’s public policy, and offering three lessons as the government pursues its new Pride of Place agenda. Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10

On Tuesday we launch 'From the ground up: Community business and Britain's next decade' - an essay collection to celebrate 10 yrs of @powertochange.org.uk and look ahead into the future of our communities. Delighted we'll be joined by this excellent panel of guests to share their 2035 vision 👇

Power to Change@powertochange.org.uk · 11mo ago

⏰ Join our essay collection launch in Westminster to hear leading voices on a decade of community business & what’s next. Chair: @anooshc.bsky.social Panel: @jamestplunkett.bsky.social, @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, @hetanshah.bsky.social, @patrickhurley.bsky.social & Emily Bolton.✍️👉 buff.ly/pcSxdmp