This has always happened. We were taught in portacabins as kids. Other than giving me a lifelong love for temporary structures it didn't harm me.

Yeah, we called the "demountables". Apparently they were supposed to be a temporary measure at my school for a year or two, but ended up being used for about 10 years.

They have now finally gone.

Many schools had temporary classrooms back in my day for us baby boomers.

Actually converting a Woolworths into a school might bring a lot of parents shopping in the high street again.

Chelmsford's Woolworths is already a new Barclays Bank!

Actually, that is rather brilliant

Whether the increased Mum trade would offset the cost of shoplifting would need to be looked in to, but it is a great thought.

It's better than having a big vacant building or half vacant building right were you need the foot traffic.  Here in the US our old high streets have become ghost towns due to sprawl: strip malls, malls and now big box stores it would be a shame to see that die in the UK too.

Back when everyone had to walk or ride a horse or a streetcar, schools were usually one block off the high street and part of the commercial/civic life of the town center. I think maintaining a commitment to keeping important things in  the town center is vital.

One of you shopping precincts (small thing, 1 floor, not a lot of shops) had a great idea. Whenever a shop closed they allowed other shops to put up displays and adverts in the windows. So the shops continued to look nice and helped benefit the surviving stores.

Kinda link domain catching I guess....

That is a good idea.

A town near us put up hoardings showing the inside of really great looking shops.  Looked wonderful, but served as a constant reminder of how good shops were if you went somewhere else.