The People & Places Partnership is working with North Herts Council and local partners in planning for post-pandemic recovery in Letchworth Garden City’s town centre as a basis for its long-term revitalisation. This page provides access to up-to-date resources created as part of this work, as well as links to related guidance.
Engaging with local stakeholders
The process began in February 2022 through engagement with key local business and community stakeholders including Love Letchworth Business Improvement District and the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. This was accompanied by a review of existing strategies for Letchworth town centre. Such stakeholder engagement is central in planning for the recovery in Letchworth town centre. This short video gives an introduction to the process proposed for the recovery & transformation of Letchworth town centre. You can also download a pfd version of the introductory presentation welcome back to Letchworth -planning for recovery & revitalisation.
Surveying business & customers
The next step involved the creation and publication of surveys for individual local businesses and town centre customers, in conjunction with North Herts Council, Love Letchworth BID and the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. Consideration also started to be given to next steps for developing a lasting partnership to help improve the town centre. This short video about Letchworth town centre recovery & revitalisation strategy -initial findings, shares some of the headline analysis of survey responses.
The next stage involved the creation of a draft ‘forward framework’ that uses the survey findings and other evidence to start planning projects to address issues. You can download a copy of the draft Letchworth Forward Framework or the summary of Letchworth on a page.
The work in Letchworth Garden City is part of a wider approach to planning the recovery of neighbouring towns in North Herts including Baldock, Hitchin and Royston too. Key local partners include members of Letchworth’s Town Centre Strategy Group such as Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire LEP, Letchworth BID and the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.
Developing detailed plans, projects & partnership
In April 2023, People & Places was invited back by North Herts Council to develop a detailed town centre action plan and to help deliver ‘quick win’ projects as part of making use of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We will be working closely with Love Letchworth BID to shape its business plan for its next term and with the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation to help boost the evening economy as well as diversify the retail and business mix. Looking to the long-term, we will be looking to help inform North Herts proposed new planning strategy through our approach to creating “place making masterplans”, as well working with Hertfordshire County Council to help roll-out sustainable travel schemes in Letchworth.
To be successful, plans and projects need to be supported by effective partnership working involving well-organised coordination and clear communications. The government-backed High Streets Task Force reported last year that “In 59% of places visited by our experts, long-term investment plans were compromised by the absence of, or poor quality of, local networks and partnerships.” People & Places will be using its expertise to help existing members of the Letchworth Town Centre Strategy Group to coordinate work across issues including active travel, culture, events, spatial planning and retail diversification, including through increased partner and stakeholder engagement.
Watch this space for more up-dates and things progress.
National guidance on town centre recovery
This work in Letchworth using the approach developed by People & Places for the Local Government Association’s revitalising town centres toolkit. This toolkit includes practical guidance on post-COVID 19 recovery planning including a case study on People & Places’ support for reopening & revitalising Selby town centre and reopening East Suffolk’s towns.
For up-to-date information on how town partnerships can respond to the COVID-19 and cost of living crises and beyond, keep an eye the Changing Places page of this web site.
Opportunities through Levelling Up and the Shared Prosperity Fund
Find out more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the opportunities it provides for sharing prosperity across our towns and cities, including how to get hold of the free guide from People & Places on the Shared Prosperity Fund & its opportunities for communities, place & local business.
Gain insights into monitoring changes in ‘pride in place’ sought through the Shared Prosperity Fund, including the contribution of the retail mix and empty shops.
