Access to cash is hugely important to millions of people. Often the most vulnerable in society have a heightened reliance on local financial services and physical face to face support. We’re pleased to be helping ensure communities still have access to cash and these essential banking services are now available in over 200 locations across the UK.
As Cash Access UK celebrated their 200th Banking Hub opening in December 2025, we reflect on our three-year journey to support them in achieving this impressive milestone.
Why banking hubs matter
As more people choose to bank and pay for things digitally, this means fewer people are visiting traditional bank branches. However, there are still millions of people and many businesses that depend on cash and face-to-face services. Cash Access UK’s banking hubs provide a great solution for communities across the UK who may no longer have a bank branch.
CAUK was established following a UK Government Taskforce funded by many of the major banks. 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 and increasing foot traffic to town centres. They truly are a fantastic community asset.
Our role
Our role has developed since being brought on board to design and deliver the first few sites as it has scaled to a national roll out. The pace and growing quantum of sites has evolved and the Ridge team has had to adapt to meet the growing demands and project challenges. It has been a huge success story for the development of the teams and individuals working on the projects seeing so many projects, many of them in conservation areas, listed buildings or prominent high street locations built out in such a short timeframe to such a high standard.
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 the project delivery partners, we successfully supported over 100 sites in 2025.
Banking hubs now cover the whole UK – the first hub in London, Acton 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, Associate Partner Architect at Ridge
CAUK opened on average two hubs every week in 2025 and are on track to deliver the 350 committed to by its member banks to the government. 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 to communities across the UK.
