Addressing Decline on the High Street

• Camden Collective are expanding their project and have taken over a three-storey, 6,000 sq. ft building on Camden High Street.
• The ground floor is comprised of two retail units, which knocked together provide 3,000 sq.ft of retail space. Collective are offering this space as a long-term test trading opportunity for up to fourteen entrepreneurs simultaneously.
• The upper floors of the building will provide a further 3,000 sq.ft of co-working space in addition to two other hub spaces already provided for start-up creative businesses.
• Officially launching in March 2014, the retail unit C/159 will house a market of London’s most innovative creative retailers, arranged in an open-plan layout in order to build Camden’s creative community, encourage business collaboration and nurture enterprise.

The building is a groundbreaking approach to address the problems faced on the British High Street, the first of its kind by a business improvement district. By combining the retail offer and co-working space on the upper floors the building will diversify the high street offer and drive footfall.

The opening of C/159 is a fantastic opportunity for creative businesses and brands to flourish through product sales, trials, events and securing a bolder presence in the Camden creative community. This innovative retail project will also create twenty new jobs with additional work placements available for Camden residents.

“C/159 is a direct response to low-quality, vacant and underused retail spaces that are symptomatic of high streets up and down the country. The traditional high street is in decline and attempts to revive it go against the grain of change. High streets must adapt to survive and retail should not be the sole driver of their revival. The high street needs to provide a much wider offer of work leisure, public service and other elements to drive footfall. By supporting start-up business with our pop up shops and co-working space we will bring much needed life to the southern end of Camden High Street.”

Simon Pitkeathley, CEO, Camden Town Unlimited.

“We’re excited about what C/159 has to offer in giving local entrepreneurs and Camden’s creative community a space to grow and develop. Initiatives such as this, and our Community Investment Programme, are really helping to deliver more jobs and business opportunities to the borough.”

Cllr Valerie Leach, Camden’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Growth

• 159 Camden High Street, two minutes walk from Camden Town Station, has been fully redesigned by Build Is Everything, a design team renowned for their use of sustainable materials and the quality of their build.
• The refurbished shop, C/159, has been shortlisted for an RICS Award, which celebrates the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

Eight creative retailers have currently been allocated space at C/159 on a 6-month basis, until October 2014. Further spaces have been reserved for short-term pop up tenancies of 1–4 weeks. Occupants include:

Black Sheep Coffee

A pop up coffee shop that serves their very own premium single-estate Robusta Revival made by the finest baristas in London.

Brookes & Jones

Bakes for grown ups. A combination of traditional and very modern bakes.

Christabel’s

Healthy food cafe integrated with a furniture shop where everything is for sale, from vibrant, hand-painted bowls to the chairs and tables.

Clime-It Brothers Ltd.

Social enterprise, using creative sources such as music, theatre and fashion to educate urban young on climate change.

In with the Old

Upcoming London-based designers showcasing work amongst and eclectic collection of vintage curiosities and furnishings. Craft workshops too.

Portamento

An independent shoe brand and concept store, mixing Italian creativity with an eclectic touch of bohemian chic. Handmade Italian shoes, bags jewellery and photography.

Test Space

Creative agency selling prints, t-shirts and art works from stable of street artists and illustrators from around the world.

English Tee Shop

Fusing the English language with fashion, they have put together an easy-to-wear collection of printed tees, dresses, bags and homeware that really does speak for itself.

“We have committed to a six month tenancy at C/159 following a really successful ‘pop up’ trial. It makes great business sense, and joining a network of creative entrepreneurs just like us has created lots more opportunities for us to grow as a company.”

Black Sheep Coffee

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Collective Project is funded by the Mayor of London’s Regeneration Fund (MRF), Camden Council and businesses in Camden through Camden Town Unlimited, the local business representative body. Simon Pitkeathley, Chief Executive of Camden Town Unlimited, and representatives from the GLA and Camden Council are all available for interview and comment.

About the Mayor’s Regeneration Fund:

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has pledged £2.2million to support regeneration projects in Camden Town with £667,996 of this money going to the Collective initiative. This is part of a £200m programme to support town centres and high streets across the capital, helping to create jobs for Londoners and enable local economies to thrive.

For press enquiries please contact Lucy Dundas on 0203 463 2088 or lucy.dundas@flint-pr.com