Weekly Street Markets - Missed Regeneration Opportunity

At Next Phase, we work across all kinds of regeneration and property projects – from major food and market halls to meanwhile uses, listed buildings, and full high street strategies.

But sometimes, it’s the simple street market that reminds me why we do what we do.

Having consulted on countless markets over the years, I’ve seen first-hand the role they can play in transforming places. Markets like Hitchin – which I visited recently – really capture what makes them so special. These are more than just trading spaces. They’re community anchors – full of personality, resilience, and local character.

They bring people together, create space for small businesses, start-ups and side hustles, and breathe life into town centres in ways few other uses can.

A weekly market might not have the scale or profile of a major regeneration scheme, but the impact it can have on a local community is just as powerful.

Markets thrive when they’re loved, supported, and genuinely connected to the place and people around them. It’s a reminder that often, the most meaningful impact comes from the most familiar spaces.

Hayden