Change in our city centre
harder given the need for social distancing. But he said a combination of measures – including delivery services, making it easier to extend pavement cafes, and amended furlough support – could in combination help pubs and restaurants survive.
In Sunderland, the shutdown of the city centre came after a trendbucking period of good news, with the unveiling of its Riverside Sunderland plans, which include work to improve the city’s cultural sector, Legal and General’s £100m investment in the former Vaux site and major companies taking space in its Beam office development.
Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at Sunderland BID, said: “Some businesses have changed their business model as a result of what’s happened and undoubtedly they will come back. Some were struggling beforehand but have come out fighting. They might have been slow to adapt to changing trends before this but now it’s given them the push they need.
“We had some great announcements in the city in January and February so that should help us to regenerate. We’ll have to deal with the issues of Covid as they come up but the plans for the city centre are coming through anyway and that will help us adapt.”
Away from shops and pubs, the other major impact on town and city centres has been seen in the cultural sector.
Artistic venues and visitor attractions everywhere have had to close, leading to what the North East Culture Partnership calls a “profound impact” on the sector.
Jane Robinson, co-chair of the partnership, said: “Culture plays a really important role in our region, not just economically, but in terms of our wider wellbeing and sense of identity, so we are working with the sector and partners, including local authorities and universities, to see how the sector can best be supported through these unprecedented times.
“Beyond the immediate impacts we are looking at what recovery might mean and how could ideas be harnessed and shared across our arts and heritage organisations.
“Broadly, we are forecasting that outdoor venues, heritage destinations, larger museums and galleries will be able to redesign their spaces to allow partial reopening in the summer, however it seems likely that performing arts venues (theatres, music, dance venues and festivals) face a much longer journey to recovery due to ongoing social distancing.”
She added: “Many venues have been working to support families and vulnerable communities with initiatives such as home delivery art boxes, food parcels and a fantastic array of digital performances, online gigs and online community performances.
“We want the public to enjoy and engage with our cultural venues again – they may have to be patient in many cases and of course the most important thing is for people to behave safely and continue to observe hygiene and social distancing. We have seen a number of fundraising initiatives and schemes where people are encouraged to buy
The developments that could change our town centres for the better in the coming years:
1. The Vaux site, Sunderland
2. Whey Aye, Newcastle
3. The Gateshead conference centre and area
4. Middlesbrough snow centre
5. Sunderland auditorium
6. Milburngate, Durham
7. Pilgrim Street, Newcastle
8. New attractions at Beamish
9. Stack Seaburn
10. Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle
tickets for future gigs and performances.
“Anything the public can do now to financially support our arts and heritage organisations will help them to reopen and be sustainable in the longer term.”
It seems certain that our town and city centres will look different when we can return to them. How healthy they are remains to be seen.