Our Meanwhile Pilot Scheme started 2021. It plans to reactivate vacant high street properties in Brent, working with landlords to make them available to local businesses or groups looking for workspace or who want to trial new commercial uses.
Brent’s Town Centres are the lifeblood of our local economy and also serve as hubs for our diverse communities. Yet they are facing many challenges from:
- out of town shopping
- more people shopping online
- COVID-19 pandemic
Vacancies are on the rise, which can make the high street unattractive and discourage visitors. New and diverse uses will be the key to ensuring our Town Centres are fit for purpose and continue to fulfil their invaluable role now and in years to come.
To tackle these challenges, we have launched a new scheme in collaboration with leading Meanwhile Use provider Meanwhile Space CIC.
Landlords of vacant properties in the borough are invited to contact us about refurbishment and reactivation of their vacant premises, by offering selected units for new workspace uses to local businesses and community groups rent free for a minimum 6 month period.
After signing our first meanwhile pilot lease on a vacant property in Church End in November 2021, we are now expanding our target areas to all of Brent’s priority town centres: Church End, Willesden Green, Neasden, Harlesden, Kilburn, Wembley, Ealing Road, Colindale and Burnt Oak.
More information
For further information, email: meanwhile@brent.gov.uk or ellie@meanwhilespace.com
If you are a local business or group (end user), find information on how to apply for rent free use of a high street premises
Steps
| Pilot Steps | Activity |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Landlord Engagement |
| Step 2 | Participating properties confirmed |
| Step 3 | End user applications |
| Step 4 | Refurbishment of selected sites |
| Step 5 | End user selection and leases signed |
| Step 6 | Sites open |
| Step 7 | Pilot scheme ends and sites returned to the landlords |