Temporary Measures for Buildings Undergoing Redevelopment: Employed Solutions in the Interim
In the realm of urban development and regeneration, the concept of 'meanwhile uses' is gaining traction. These interim uses of vacant or underutilized urban spaces serve as a bridge between the present and the future, providing temporary solutions before long-term development or redevelopment takes place.
The benefits of meanwhile uses are manifold. They offer a platform for planners, developers, and communities to experiment with new ideas such as pop-up shops, art exhibitions, or community activities. This experimental phase helps evaluate public interest and viability, ensuring that permanent uses align with community needs and desires.
By bringing activity and foot traffic to dormant properties, meanwhile uses reduce blight, discourage vandalism, and improve local safety and social interactions. They also foster community engagement, often incorporating public consultation and creative placemaking, which enhances community buy-in and tailored development outcomes.
Economically, meanwhile uses can stimulate small business growth, support local entrepreneurship, and attract visitors. Pop-up retail or craft shops, for instance, can provide a testing ground for entrepreneurs to test their business ideas without committing to ongoing costs.
Flexibility and adaptability are key advantages of meanwhile uses. They allow urban spaces to be responsive to evolving market demands and social needs without immediate permanent construction. This adaptability is particularly valuable in an ever-changing urban landscape.
Examples of meanwhile uses abound. Pop-up craft shops or markets, exhibition spaces, temporary urban agriculture or green spaces, community workshops or performance venues, and interim office or co-working spaces are all common examples. These temporary uses provide valuable insights into potential permanent uses and help guide future mixed-use or transit-oriented developments.
In the context of development delays, experts like Charlotte Hutchinson from Carter Jonas suggest that short-term uses on development sites can be implemented when delays occur. Recent factors such as planning moratoriums on nutrient neutrality and electrical capacity, and local planning authorities stalling on decision-making due to political uncertainty have exacerbated these delays.
However, meanwhile uses can potentially result in the final scheme providing spaces that businesses need as they grow. For instance, U+I is looking to embrace the concept of meanwhile uses for the Cambridge project, citing benefits such as early activation and social value. The Cambridge project will offer opportunities for foodbanks, charity shops, and arts groups through meanwhile uses, potentially leading to the establishment of new business hubs.
U+I's vision for the regeneration project in Cambridge aims to create a socially and economically inclusive, thriving, and low-carbon area. The company's work with homelessness charities, such as It Takes a City and the New Meaning Foundation, reflects this commitment.
The temporary consent of modular homes built by social enterprise partner New Meaning Foundation, for instance, provides an important solution to the housing challenge in the area until a longer-term, permanent solution can be found.
The social value of meanwhile uses is being recognized. They provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to test their business ideas without committing to ongoing costs, fostering good relationships with the local community. Landowners and developers are often willing to provide interim solutions for meanwhile uses on sites reserved for later phases of development.
It is important to note that the Letwin Independent Review of Build Out found that developers are not primarily responsible for leaving prime sites dormant. Market absorption, planning hold-ups, a construction industry staff shortage, and a difficulty in obtaining building materials are common reasons for development delays.
In conclusion, meanwhile uses are a strategic tool in urban regeneration to enliven spaces, engage communities, and test concepts economically and socially before long-term transformation. Examples such as Flat Iron Square in London, King's Cross' iconic art installation, and the food and beverage businesses incubated at Elephant and Castle's Mercato Metropolitano, demonstrate the potential of meanwhile uses to transform urban landscapes.
