A shop that once traded for years now sits empty. An office block that was once busy with workers has dark windows and little sign of life. In some places there are several.
At the same time, the country continues to face a housing shortage. Demand remains high, affordability remains challenging and governments of all colours continue to look for ways to increase housing supply.
It is perhaps no surprise that attention has turned towards Britain's growing stock of empty commercial buildings.
This week on Property Matters, Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay will be discussing the growing trend of converting shops, offices and other commercial premises into residential accommodation.
On the surface, it sounds like a sensible solution.
If a building is no longer being fully used, why not give it a new purpose? Rather than leaving it empty, it could provide much-needed homes for individuals and families.
In many cases that is exactly what is happening.
Former office blocks have been transformed into flats. Empty retail units have found new life as residential developments. Some town centres are beginning to evolve into mixed-use environments where people live, work and spend their leisure time in the same location.
Supporters argue that this approach makes practical sense.
Existing buildings can often be adapted more quickly than entirely new developments can be built. It can also reduce pressure on greenfield land and bring activity back into parts of towns that have struggled in recent years.
Yet there are wider questions worth considering.
A thriving town centre has traditionally been about more than buildings alone.
It has been a place where people work, meet, shop, socialise and access local services. When commercial premises disappear, something of that balance can change.
It would be interesting to know whether converting large numbers of shops and offices into housing strengthens communities or gradually alters the character of the places people value.
The answer may differ from one location to another.
Some town centres may benefit from having more residents living close to local businesses. Additional footfall can support cafés, restaurants and independent retailers that rely on passing trade.
Other areas may find themselves asking whether too much commercial space is being lost, particularly if economic conditions improve and businesses once again require premises.
There is also the question of quality.
Not every office building was originally designed with residential living in mind. Light, space, access to outdoor areas and local infrastructure all contribute to making somewhere feel like a home rather than simply a place to sleep.
As with many property debates, there are no easy answers.
The challenge is not simply creating more homes. It is creating places where people genuinely want to live while maintaining vibrant and sustainable communities around them.
Perhaps that is where the conversation becomes most interesting.
Are we finding an imaginative solution to two separate problems at once - empty buildings and housing shortages?
Or are we sometimes in danger of treating housing numbers as the only measure of success?
Join Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay as they discuss whether Britain's empty buildings could help solve part of the housing challenge, and what that might mean for the future shape of our towns and communities.
Watch live on Tuesday at 1pm or catch up later on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
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