Public Sector Event
What do you do with a 'dead' department store? Rethinking the high street
Venue: Museum of Oxford, Oxford
Date: 10 Sep 2026
Synopsis: The event for local authorities, funders, placemakers, community-led regeneration experts, and heritage practitioners to explore how redundant retail space can be reimagined for a new era.
Details:
Across the UK, former department stores sit empty at the heart of our towns and cities. Once anchors of high street life, these vast buildings now represent one of the biggest regeneration challenges — and also opportunities — facing places today.
Yet the story doesn't need to end with vacancy. Pioneering projects are already demonstrating how former retail giants can be successfully repurposed as mixed-use destinations, cultural venues, workplaces, homes, education hubs and community assets. At the same time, new funding streams, public-private partnerships and investment models are helping unlock revitalised town and city centres.
This event brings together local authorities, funders, placemakers, community-led regeneration experts, and heritage practitioners to explore how redundant retail space can be reimagined for a new era. Through case studies, expert insights, and practical discussion, we'll examine how redundant department stores can become catalysts for high street renewal, town centre regeneration, and sustainable economic growth.
Our Programme
Our exciting speaker line-up will be announced soon. Here's what you can expect on the day.
- Case studies from people and places leading the way in department store reuse, including the team behind the £125m reimagining of Debenhams Oxford.
- A panel discussion bringing together architects, property owners, local authorities, and funders, focused on overcoming barriers to town centre renewal.
- Retail insights and future trends from Canning Insights, exploring what succcessful high streets will look like in the future.
- Behind-the-scenes tours of Oxford's current retail redevelopment schemes.
Contact:
Heritage Network
admin@heritagenetwork.org.uk