The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have accelerated the decline of traditional retail and often resulted in empty shops and dwindling footfall.
However, this challenging period also presents an opportunity to reimagine the role of our town centres and to explore innovative approaches to revitalise these dynamic community hubs.
By encouraging more people to live in our town centres, we can breathe new life into these areas, supporting local businesses, enhancing community cohesion, and reducing our carbon footprint through more sustainable living patterns.
Local authorities recognise the potential of town centres to be thriving, mixed-use destinations for living, working, and leisure. However, this alone is unlikely to drive this transformation.
Market forces mean that private developers often find there are fewer barriers to building on greenfield sites on the outskirts of towns and cities, and this is reflected in housing development patterns throughout Scotland.
Analysis by Scottish Futures Trust has shown that there has been limited town centre living activity across Scotland, and some towns show there has been little or no new town centre housing for a long time.
This is where local authorities should have the power to step in and play a proactive role, shaping development and creating an environment that encourages investment and regeneration.
Cities like Inverness and Perth are already implementing ambitious strategies to revitalise their town centres. These initiatives involve repurposing historic buildings, attracting private investment for housing developments, and enhancing cultural and leisure amenities to create a more diverse and appealing offering.
The Highland Council City Masterplan acts as an example of this, with 185 town centre homes delivered in partnership with the Highland Housing Alliance. The leadership and certainty offered by local authorities is vital to building confidence in city living and attracting investment.
Yet, for town centre living to truly succeed, it must be more than just a niche offering of re-using some historic buildings.
The Land Commission has already made proposals to support the expansion of town centre living - including tax reforms to incentivise re-use of land and buildings, and expert support to enable the assembly of sites for development.
That said, a one-size-fits-all approach will not work, as the challenges and opportunities facing a rural market town will differ significantly from those of a larger urban centre. Councils must engage closely with local residents, businesses, and community groups to develop bespoke strategies that reflect local aspirations and build on existing strengths.
As we embark on this journey, it is crucial that we learn from best practices and share knowledge across Scotland's local authorities.
To find out more about the Scottish Land Commission, please visit https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/.
David Stewart is Policy & Practice Lead at the Scottish Land Commission focusing on land for housing and place.
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