Partner with us

We are a strategic and creative practice working with local and national partners to unlock the potential of underused spatial assets. By activating sites for community benefit we generate lasting impact—for asset owners and communities.

Work with us
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Impact

Our work creates lasting impact for its beneficiaries. We help to:

  • Foster civic pride.
  • Build meaningful connections between people and place.
  • Maintain asset value
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Approach

Each project is shaped by its site, story, and needs of stakeholders. Our delivery combines

  • Robust research and analysis
  • Creative engagement to understand demand and aspiration
  • Capacity building in local communities
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Output

The breadth of our approach and impact has seen us realise a range of projects

  • From craft workshops to community gardens to affordable workspaces.
  • Temporary or long-term use 
  • Empowered communities. 

Why meanwhile use?

Underpinning our bold work is a commitment to activating underused space, delivering solutions that are valued by their neighbourhoods and stakeholders.

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Activation and Partnership

Unlocking underused sites and building meaningful partnerships consistently promotes both social and economic resilience in the long term.

Community Empowerment 

Improving access to high quality space, creating a diverse network and providing upskilling opportunities to locals empowers the local people. 

Sustainability and Resilience 

Pioneering innovative sustainable development practices with room for experimentation maximises long-term social and economic value. 

What we do

1. Research and Strategy

Using a client’s brief we work with key stakeholders to develop strategies on a range of scales, from single building initiatives to city-wide regeneration masterplans.

  • Community-led placemaking strategies
  • Thought leadership and policy guidance
  • Asset reviews
  • Feasibility studies
  • Operations appraisals

2. Design and Development

We harness in-house design expertise and collaborate with award-winning partners to deliver place-specific projects, putting positive social impact at the forefront of design.

  • Co-design
  • Community engagement
  • Innovative solutions for challenging assets  
  • Capacity building and enablement
  • Governance strategies 
  • Development partner and project manegement

3. Operations and Delivery

We combine in-house resources with strategic partnerships to offer tailored site management across all scales, from initial launch through to long term operation.

  • Site activation
  • Enabling social value
  • Tenant recruitment and management
  • Site operation and facilities management
  • Business support programming

  • Community-led placemaking strategies 

  • Thought leadership and policy guidance  

  • Asset reviews 

  • Feasibility studies 

  • Operations appraisals 

  • Co-design

  • Community engagement

  • Innovative solutions for challenging assets  

  • Capacity building and enablement

  • Governance strategies 

  • Development partner

  • Project management

  • Site activation

  • Enabling social value

  • Project launches

  • Tenant recruitment and management 

  • Site operation and facilities management

  • Business support programming

Work with us

Case Studies

The Hithe

LJ Works

MERP Meanwhile Strategy
The Hithe

19 September 2021

2021 – 2031

Partners: Southwark Council, IF_DO.

The Hithe was commissioned in 2018 to transform a vacant site situated at a pivotal point between Canada Water and Rotherhithe Station. The demountable structure was designed to breathe life into the space for a 10-year meanwhile use period. The Hithe fosters a sense of community and identity with its striking aesthetic statement and also by extending its benefits to the local community through partnership initiatives. It serves as a cultural hub supporting entrepreneurship, skill-sharing, and community engagement.

LJ Works

19 September 2023

2023 – Current

Partners: Lambeth Council, LJ Farm, Public Works, Architecture 00.

A multi-use site housing retail, studios, offices, a kitchen and coffee roastery, connected by a yard and growing space.

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MERP Meanwhile Strategy

06 November 2023

Partners: Clarion Housing

Meanwhile Space was commissioned to develop meanwhile use strategies to shape the development of two sites within the Merton Estates Regeneration Project – a £1 billion initiative regenerating areas across south-west London by creating 2,800 new homes, upgrading existing homes and improving greenspace, retail, and community facilities. Our strategies looked to harness the 10-year regeneration period as a window of opportunity to pilot community and commercially led interventions.