In considering how to turn-around a town centre, it can be difficult to know where to start and what is involved. This schematic Town Centre Delivery Framework summaries the key components in a way that demonstrates the coordinated approach required and helps different stakeholders see where they can play a role.
The components of the Town Centre Delivery Framework are grouped in to six broad stages that ideally follow in sequence; from initial foundations to forward planning necessary to sustain activity over many years.
FOUNDATIONS
- Inspiration & objectives: Long-term funding commitment; stakeholder involvement; awareness of good practice and defined ‘cause’ and objectives.
- Evidence & Impact: Baseline survey and monitoring of impact over range of years with analysis.
FUNCTION
- Place-Shaping Funding, strategy & ongoing, prioritised streetscape improvement plan agreed & coordinated travel, parking & access strategy.
- Planning and Property: Robust town-centre-first policies, masterplanning, priorities within & between towns & coordinated work with town centre businesses & landlords.
- Retail Enhancement: Tailored training/mentoring & strategy to enhance retail distinctiveness based on current provision, trends and competing centres.
- Community & Culture: Enhance provision through facilities, events & prioritised community assets development plan.
- Marketing: Clear understanding of town brand with pooled budgets, collective campaign, digital infrastructure, skills & active plan.
- Complementarity: Individual towns aware of respective roles and pursuing local action plans and policies through strategic partners.
FORM
- Structure & Governance: Appropriate structure, joint working & current business plan agreed with partners.
- Strategic Partnership & Influence: Good credibility to coordinate local stakeholder activity and influence cross-departmental council strategy and other strategic partnerships.
FOLK
- Communications & Engagement: Strong public, private and community engagement with active & coordinated involvement in planning and delivery backed by clear communications plan
- Knowledge & Skills: Effective Chair, suitably skilled Board, employment of necessary staff, effective management of trained volunteers and clear lines for joint working with other stakeholder groups.
FINANCES
- Finances: Organisation with robust financial procedures & strategy agreed for diverse, sustainable, fund raising & income.
- Economic Investment: Town centre ‘run as a business’ with inter-relationships understood and investment secured for collective asset management.
FORWARD PLANNING
- Strategy & Business Plan: Forward plan agreed and covering all the ‘F-factors’.
Further Information
For more information about the different components of the Town Centre Delivery Framework, visit the Top Tips section of the web site which includes links to guidance on Understanding Town Centre Trends; Creating Talented Town Teams; Creating A Vision and Masterplan; Generating Income and Investment.
