Why London Needs Meanwhile Spaces:

London is a global city, but behind the bustle, thousands of commercial properties sit empty. Offices, shops, and industrial spaces lie unused—sometimes for years—while landlords, developers, and local authorities absorb the ongoing costs of vacancy: business rates, security, insurance, and the gradual decline of assets. At the same time, local communities struggle with a shortage of affordable workspaces, community facilities, and creative hubs. This mismatch highlights the urgent need for meanwhile spaces—temporary uses of vacant properties that bring economic and social life back into the city.

What Are Meanwhile Spaces?

“Meanwhile use” is the practice of activating an empty property before it is permanently redeveloped, sold, or leased. Instead of remaining idle, spaces can be repurposed for community benefit, local enterprise, and cultural activity.

The benefits are significant:

● For landlords and developers: reduced holding costs, improved property security,and enhanced social value.

● For local authorities: visible regeneration, community engagement, and increased activity in underused areas.

● For communities: access to affordable, inclusive, and inspiring places to work, gather, and create.

By transforming unused buildings into active hubs, meanwhile spaces prevent urban stagnation and breathe life back into neighbourhoods.

How Urban Cohesion C.I.C Creates Impact

At Urban Cohesion C.I.C, we specialise in managing vacant properties and transforming them into thriving meanwhile spaces. Acting as community operators, we work alongside landlords, developers, and local councils to ensure that properties don’t go to waste but instead create measurable social impact.

Real Examples of Our Work

● Empty offices into affordable workspaces

We’ve reconfigured underused offices to host multiple small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), giving start-ups and entrepreneurs the chance to grow in central London locations.

● Car parks into skate parks

Temporary conversions of disused car parks have provided young people with safe, creative, and active spaces to enjoy—helping local youth communities thrive.

● Vacant retail units into community hubs

Old shops have been transformed into accessible neighbourhood spaces where we run employment workshops, training programmes, and local events.

● Unused warehouses into creative studios

By partnering with arts organisations, we’ve provided affordable creative space for artists and cultural groups, strengthening London’s cultural ecosystem.

Each project demonstrates the value of meanwhile use: spaces that once drained resources are now supporting economic activity, community development, and cultural growth.