Our multidisciplinary teams are supporting the delivery of nationwide High Street Banking Hubs.
Cash is making a comeback, and we’re thrilled to be part of the movement. Our multidisciplinary teams are helping deliver High Street Banking Hubs nationwide, giving communities access to cash and essential banking services they’ve been missing.
As Cash Access UK celebrate their 100th Banking Hub opening in December 2024, we reflect on our two-year journey to support them in achieving this impressive milestone.
Why banking hubs matter
With over 600 bank branches closing in 2023 and the trend showing no signs of slowing, Cash Access UK’s (CAUK) Banking Hubs aim to fill the gap on many high streets. A ‘not-for-profit’ company, CAUK was established following a UK Government Taskforce and is funded by ten major banks and building societies. It aims to provide a shared banking space for businesses and residents to withdraw and deposit cash, as well as access face-to-face banking support.
Banking hubs also act as a catalyst to support local economies by bringing dormant high street buildings back to life, increasing foot traffic to town centres and delivering extensive social value programmes that champion and bring together local communities.
Our role
Our teams are providing full multi-disciplinary design service, including Architecture; Building Services Engineering; Design Management; Geospatial Surveying; Town and Country Planning; Structural and Civil Engineering; Health & Safety and BIM Information Management.
Working alongside Integral and JLL, we successfully opened 32 Hubs in 2023, and 68 hubs in 2024, with a peak time of ten hubs per week. Banking hubs now cover the whole UK – the first hub in London was opened by Martin Lewis CBE, Carnoustie being the first in Scotland, Prestatyn in Wales, and Kilkeel in Northern Ireland. Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP opened the Darwen Hub in December 2024, and her predecessor former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP opened his local branch in Surrey.
With so many societal changes taking place in banking and an accompanying shift towards online services – that doesn’t suit everyone – we’re proud to contribute our expertise to CAUK’s Banking Hubs. They provide a great opportunity to bring cash and face-to-face banking back to the high street and we’re delighted to support on this instrumental, innovative project.
Banking Hubs are also making a positive difference to the regeneration of town centres, bringing abandoned, prominent buildings back into public use. We’ve witnessed overwhelmingly positive feedback and can sense communities’ pride in the service offered by their local Hubs.
Tom Bell, Senior Associate Architect at Ridge
Gareth Oakley, Chief Executive of CAUK has a plan to open two new Hubs each week until they reach their target of 300 to 350. To deliver on this ambition, our teams at Ridge will continue to provide expert counsel and practical hands-on support, working alongside our delivery Partners. Together, we’re helping bring vital banking services back where they belong.
Tom Bell, Senior Associate Architect. Contact Tom at 
Alex Miller is an Architect Partner and project lead for Banking Hubs, contact Alex at 
