How destination spaces can help solve the UK’s loneliness epidemic

In the UK, loneliness is on the rise. It’s been described as an epidemic, with over 3.8 million people experiencing chronic loneliness, according to the Campaign to End Loneliness. While the causes are complex, one thing is clear: the places where we gather matter.

Due to major societal and economic shifts – such as the rise of hybrid working, the decline of high streets, and the closure of local gathering places like libraries, leisure centres, and pubs – opportunities for people to come together have significantly diminished. As a result, different types of venue are stepping up to fill this growing social gap.

Destinations such as Shopping centres and Co-Work spaces are uniquely placed to become modern community hubs – places where people don’t just go, transact, carry out task, they are places to ‘be’ and connect.

The opportunity for landlords and asset owners

A well-designed destination such as a shopping centre or co-working space, can do so much more than house retail or office units. With thoughtful planning and creative design, landlords can transform their spaces into destinations that:

• Encourage casual social interaction through comfortable seating areas and open layouts.
• Host community events such as networking evenings, education forums workshops, charity pop-ups, local markets, and family-friendly activities.
• Support inclusivity by providing suitable and adaptable spaces, like quiet and calm zones for those with diverse sensory and physical needs, dementia-friendly cafés, spaces for teenagers and parents with very young children.

These aren’t just ‘nice to haves’. They are essential for making places vibrant, relevant, and successful – achieving all-important metrics; retention, occupancy, dwell time, and footfall.
Becoming places people want to ‘be’ together.

Design’s role in tackling loneliness

At Beyond London, we believe design has the power to shape experiences and create connections. Our team works with landlords and or asset owner / operators to:

• Reimagine seating areas as social hubs rather than afterthoughts.
• Create navigation signage strategies that encourage movement and discovery.
• Build memorable, cultural and human-centred experiences that keep people feeling connected to their environment.
• Deliver environments that support mental wellbeing while boosting commercial success.

When spaces are designed to foster community spirit, everyone wins
visitors, members, retailers, and landlords alike.