I’ve walked more than a few high streets that look like ghost towns: empty windows, faded signage, and a sense that these places have been forgotten by policy-makers and investors alike. Yet beneath that quiet there’s huge potential. Local councils can unlock it without blowing their budgets — if they think creatively, act fast, and partner with the community and the private sector. Below I set out practical, low-cost ways to repurpose unused commercial spaces so high streets become places people want to visit and spend time in again.

Why unused commercial space is a problem—and an opportunity

Empty shops depress footfall, reduce business rates income, and create a feedback loop that pushes customers and traders away. But those vacant units are also a resource: they’re already in the centre of town, connected to transport, and often cheaper than greenfield alternatives. I see them as short-term laboratories and long-term assets. Councils can employ a mix of temporary and permanent interventions to generate activity, test ideas, and attract investment — and many of those interventions need surprisingly little capital.

Low-cost, high-impact “meanwhile” uses

One of the best tools in the toolkit is the “meanwhile” model: short-term leases or licences that let organisations use empty premises for pop-ups, galleries, workshops, or community services. These are quick wins because they:

  • Bring immediate footfall back to the high street,
  • Give local entrepreneurs a low-risk place to test concepts,
  • Keep buildings maintained and secure, reducing blight.

    • Councils can use simple licence templates (many councils already have model documents) and small fee waivers to encourage charities, social enterprises, and micro-retailers. Organisations like Meanwhile Space specialise in facilitating these arrangements and can be a cheap partner rather than reinventing the wheel.

    Convert to mixed-use: affordable workspace, community hubs, and cultural space

    Permanent change often involves changing the use of a building — but that doesn’t have to be expensive. Councils can:

  • Encourage landlords to split large ground-floor units into modular shopfronts suitable for micro-retail or studio space,
  • Support conversion to affordable co-working spaces for freelancers and small companies, using low-cost fit-outs and local furniture reuse schemes,
  • Facilitate community asset transfers so charities or social enterprises run cultural venues or training centres on long leases.

    • A low-cost approach is to provide grants or business-rate relief for the first six to twelve months to ease start-up risk. Partnering with workspace providers (from local operators to national names like Outlandish or established coworking brands) can secure management expertise without the council having to run the space itself.

    Use planning and tax levers smartly

    Planning policy and financial nudges can channel reuse without large direct spending. Practical levers include:

  • Flexible planning consents that allow change-of-use to creative, community, or residential uses without costly applications;
  • Business rates incentives for short-term or experimental occupiers — councils can offer temporary discounts for meanwhile projects;
  • Use of CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) or s106 to fund high-street activation projects in areas affected by new development.

    • Many councils shy away from altering planning rules because they fear loss of control. I’ve found that targeted, time-limited relaxations (e.g., a temporary permitted development right) can unlock activity while retaining safeguards for long-term planning goals.

    Build partnerships, not projects

    One truth I’ve learned is that council budgets are rarely the limiting factor — capacity, relationships, and trust are. Successful schemes depend on partnerships with:

  • Landlords and estate agents (to identify and secure units),
  • Local businesses and BIDs to coordinate marketing and events,
  • Community organisations and arts groups who can mobilise volunteers and audiences,
  • Housing associations and developers for mixed-use redevelopment plans.

    • Set up a simple, single point of contact within the council — a “meanwhile officer” or high-street champion — to shepherd enquiries, match tenants to spaces, and speed up approvals. That human touch reduces friction and is inexpensive compared with prolonged negotiations.

    Examples of low-budget interventions that work

    Here are things I’ve seen succeed with modest public investment:

  • Pop-up markets and night-time events that use vacant units as stalls or backdrops — often funded by small BID levies, local sponsorship, or crowd-funding;
  • Artist residencies and galleries that swap rent for programming and public workshops, increasing visits and local press coverage;
  • Temporary libraries, career hubs, or digital skills centres run by charities in vacant shops — these deliver public value and attract a steady audience;
  • Micro-manufacturing “maker spaces” where budding craftspeople can rent benches and tools by the month; this model works in towns with a creative tradition and low overheads.

    • How to finance interventions without big budgets

    You don’t need a big capital pot if you deploy mixed finance creatively:

  • Reallocate existing revenue — small discretionary funds or town centre budgets can seed pilot projects; pilots that prove impact can unlock larger pots later,
  • Use social investment and impact bonds — programs that deliver measurable social outcomes (skills training, jobs) can attract repayable social finance,
  • Leverage in-kind contributions — councils can provide free licences, marketing support, insurance facilitation, or capitalise on volunteer labour,
  • Encourage landlord contribution — offer reduced business rates or match funding for fit-outs in return for longer leases that stabilise income for owners.

    • A simple table of typical low-cost interventions and ballpark one-off costs helps councillors prioritise quickly:

    Intervention Typical one-off cost Notes
    Short-term pop-up licence and basic fit-out £500–£5,000 Depends on landlord contribution and volunteer fit-out
    Artist residency / gallery setup £1,000–£10,000 Often offset by small grants and ticketed events
    Co-working micro-fit-out (modular furniture) £5,000–£25,000 Can be scaled incrementally
    Community hub conversion (longer term) £10,000–£100,000+ Higher if structural changes or new utilities required

    Measure impact and iterate

    One of the reasons pilots work is that you can measure and adapt quickly. Focus on a few practical KPIs: footfall, new business starts, jobs created, event attendance, and social value measures like users of services. Collect qualitative feedback from traders and residents — their stories are often the best evidence when seeking further funding.

    Regulatory and practical pitfalls to avoid

    From experience, the common mistakes are underestimating lease complexity, failing to consult neighbours, and overcommitting council resources. Protect against these with clear, simple licensing documents, a visible calendar of activities, and sunset clauses so that temporary uses don’t become hard-to-manage forever. Finally, transparent communications about safety, opening hours, and waste management maintain good relations with neighbouring businesses.

    Reactivating high streets doesn’t require heroic budgets — it requires practical levers, close partnerships, and a willingness to try small, fast experiments. When councils focus on enabling activity rather than owning every solution, unused commercial space becomes a canvas for community-led revival, new jobs, and a revitalised local economy.