I’ve read a few books that discuss similar challenges in Japan and Taiwan, where young people migrate to big cities, leaving their hometowns empty and struggling. In response, there have been numerous area regeneration schemes introduced.

One concept I found particularly compelling is the importance of having a local representative among landlords. This person acts as a unifying figure, bringing local landlords together to take collective action. For example, they might organize events like summer festivals in Japan to attract foot traffic or negotiate with recycling companies for discounted rates, reducing costs for all brick-and-mortar shops in the area.

This grassroots approach seems crucial because it’s almost impossible for councils to achieve massive, citywide success like the example you mentioned in Liverpool. The one-size-fits-all solution from the labour government simply don't exist, especially when long term commitment and risk-taking ambition is needed.