King’s Cross’s Anthea Harries on why the public realm is not just for Christmas

The late winter period is so often associated with doom and gloom: cities and towns are stripped of their festive sparkle and so too are the people that populate their streets. It was a tough Christmas for many, with the cost-of-living crisis and rail strikes creating a perfect storm for shoppers and retailers alike. It’s no secret that many retail and hospitality businesses rely on this period to support commercial success the rest of the year.

This is exactly why our places, spaces and businesses need extra care and attention in the period that follows Christmas. One of the most important ways we can help is by better activating our public realm during these darker months and extending the winter appeal of our destinations – benefiting both the people who use and visit our neighbourhood and the businesses that call King’s Cross home.

While generous outdoor spaces might automatically attract visitors during the warmer months, encouraging visitors and maximising dwell time in the winter doldrums requires a bit more magic. The start of the year is not the time to put your outdoor events and enlivenment strategies on hold.

Of course, we are not alone in recognising the importance of these first months of the year. Several other destinations across the UK have tried and tested January activations, some to great effect. Canary Wharf and Battersea Power Station in London and smaller cities like Bristol have used colourful winter light festivals to illuminate our skies at a time when many need it the most.

As well as driving footfall and attracting crowds, we should be considering how our shared spaces can continue to lift spirits and offer moments of connection and happiness.

We have experimented by extending our Christmas activation programme into the new year – running activity-based pop-ups like Club Curling through January and February and commissioning thought-provoking winter installations like Temenos and ‘elsewhere’. These ongoing activations are fundamental in ‘lighting up’ two key areas of our public realm, Lewis Cubitt Square and Granary Square, long after the Christmas decorations come down.

But as an industry, should we be going further? Could we consider January and February as their own milestones – instead of simply a hangover from Christmas − that require distinct enlivenment strategies? One linked to health, wellbeing and community, for instance, at a time when people’s mental health and disposable income are in decline?

There’s no doubt that enlivened public realm is commercially important for our tenants. But for our communities, these long, dark days can also be some of the toughest and loneliest. As well as driving footfall and attracting crowds, we should be considering how our shared spaces can continue to lift spirits and offer moments of connection and happiness.

Fluid public realm that can be adapted and modified was a crucial part of our pandemic response and a lifeline for many of our occupiers. It’s vital to continue to reap the benefits of those learnings, for our tenants and community. The space between buildings is what creates a sense of place, magic and community, as well as ensuring the durability and longevity of your assets. Public realm isn’t just for Christmas or hot, summer months – it’s the lifeblood of your destination all year round.

Anthea Harries is asset management director at King’s Cross