Reimagine Your High Street

Reimagine Your High Street is a programme developed and run by nef to help communities design and implement a new kind of town centre programme. Based on the highly successful and influential US-based Main Street programme it allows people to plan and deliver strategies and actions that build on, enhance and develop the local assets they already have – their high street and surrounding areas. The emphasis is on creating a low-carbon, high well-being local economy.

How does it work?
Reimagine Your High Street programmes are driven by the creativity and passion of local people and supported by nef’s national co-ordinating centre. nef will develop the programme with a group of representatives from the local business community, resident organisations, statutory agencies, voluntary sector, youth and faith groups. The programme will focus on four main areas: local co-ordination, design, promotion and economic development. All representatives are volunteers and the only criterion for membership is a passion for the place they live and work in. Initially the group will be supported by nef but the programme is designed to lead to the employment of local people in the long term.

Who can use it?
Everyone with a stake in a community and its future should be involved.

• Local authorities looking for an alternative planning programme that prioritises the needs of people and their communities. Reimagine Your High Street provides a way for local authorities to design a planning process side by side with the communities they serve.
• Community groups will find the Reimagine Your High Street a useful tool in helping them to understand the planning process and the public sector institutions in their district.
• Businesses can find a way to connect with their communities and build the planning process alongside their market.

Why is Reimagine Your High Street needed?

• Combats the aggressive growth of national chain stores at the expense of smaller independent shops which are closing at the rate of 2,000 a year. Reimagine Your High Street seeks to de-clone the high street by shifting focus to local independent traders. A successful town centre relies on a blend of well known retailers and local independents.
• Works towards a resilient local independent sector means that more money is retained within the local economy to support local growth in jobs and other opportunities.
• Help communities understand and implement initiatives such as shopping local and supporting local supply chains. - Shows that local businesses can be more successful through collaboration and better organisation.
• Promotes the idea that the town centre and the high street can be more than just a theatre of consumption by developing strong bonds between town centre businesses and residents through volunteering and membership which leads to residents and local traders, participating in and designing of, thriving centres.