The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action
Think tank: Power to Change
Author(s): Kate McKenzie; Shaheen Warren; Sam Watson; Jessica Craig
May 20, 2026
This report from UK think tank Power to Change argues that the civic high street is the right organising principle for the shift toward mixed-use, community-centred high streets.
The ‘new high street playbook’ shares lessons from the Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now.
Connecting real world practice to the current policy window, this report reflects a growing focus on the conditions needed for longer-term stewardship, particularly the role of community influence, governance and ownership in shaping the future of our high streets.
