Three of my favourite town centre regeneration projects tick all the right boxes as successful examples of the art of asset-based development. The Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Pershore; The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal and Galeri Caernarfon are all iconic buildings that earn their keep within their towns; all are community-owned and managed; all provide…
As communities ride the rollercoaster from COVID to the cost of living crisis, the People & Places Partnership is taking a fresh look at tracking national town centre trends. The aim of this new study and the guidance it will create, is to analyse and understand national trends to help inform local decision-making. The new…
A clear vision and masterplan is important as you embark on a journey to revitalise your town centre or community. It’s important to be clear about where you want to go. Understanding where you are and where you want to be, making best use of the physical assets of a place, energising people and bringing…
At the People & Places Partnership we are pleased to announce the release of an updated post-COVID 19 version of the revitalising town centres toolkit prepared for the Local Government Association (LGA). Launch of revised toolkit The revised revitalising town centres toolkit supplements the original handbook for local leaders on how to approach the revitalisation…
This case study reviews the process of creating talented town teams over four years in six Pembrokeshire communities led by Pembrokeshire County Council. In 2012 Pembrokeshire County Council conducted a review of its town centres, focusing on: issues and challenges; impacts of council services; opportunities for regeneration and potential for improvement. Moving away from conventional…
Bringing towns to life through events is about creativity and connections to place. That is the message that shone through to me at this year’s Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) Summer School hosted in Hull. In putting on this ‘event about events’, ATCM did what it does best: bringing members together to share experiences…
When the Government-backed property industry task force published its ground-breaking report Beyond retail: redefining the shape and purpose of town centres, it included strong recognition of the important role that local leadership can play in giving places an advantage in adapting. The Beyond retail report’s recommendations for the role of local authorities remain a valid stimulus…
Survey work developing an evidence base in Southwold demonstrates the importance of properly understanding town centre issues. Southwold is a seemingly prosperous place with a high dependency on the visitor economy. Anecdotal evidence has, however, suggested that independent businesses are vulnerable to rising costs. These businesses are perceived as an essential element of the town…
New guidance prepared on Worksop for Bassetlaw Council, may be helpful to other councils looking to turn-around their town centres. Worksop’s Forward Framework looks at both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of town centre revitalisation led by local councils and other partners. The People & Places Partnership was appointed in November 2017 to provide a high-level…
The Local Government Association (LGA) are working with the People & Places Partnership to develop a toolkit and guidance on the role of local councils in reviving town centres. The aim is to help local authorities and their elected members make better decisions with regards to actions and interventions in support of their town centres.…