Place leaders often want to know about the options for improving parking for businesses and customers, though do not know where to go for objective and affordable advice. That was part of the thinking behind the People & Places Partnership combining forces and vocabulary with Park Consult, to devise the People, Places & Parking…
Community ownership alone will not reverse the fortunes of our town centres though with the right support it can have a significant role. A new Report on Unleashing Community Ownership sets-out how this is a role that can include re-using iconic buildings and creating new key attractors as part of the town centre mix. …
The People & Places Partnership has been working with Buckingham Town Council and local partners in planning for a revitalised Buckingham town centre. This page provides access to up-to-date resources created as part of this work, as well as links to related guidance. The aim of the town centre study was to: update 2016 Retail…
The report “community-powered high streets” published by Power to Change makes an important and timely call for greater importance to be given to the role of community businesses in the revitalisation of our town and city centres. It sets-out to demonstrate “how community businesses will build town centres fit for the future”. Not a how-to…
Blog by Anne Snelson, Founder of Lead With Sustainability, People & Places Associate This guest blog looks at ways of boosting high streets through sustainable action. One of the key emerging business themes we see for 2023 is a focus on sustainability. Much of this emerging focus comes on the back of Government activity, such…
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…
It is important for local authorities to take a broad perspective on the place of parking in town centres. That was my message in recently addressing council members and officers at a Local Government Association event on parking and high streets. My thought was to challenge participants to think beyond the silos of their own…
By Jekaterina Ancane & Chris Wade, The People & Places Partnership Here we consider the lessons learnt through working across many communities, to refine our approach to transforming public spaces as part of the wider revitalisation of our town and city centres. Our guiding light in this, is to try and bring local expectations and…
This policy report from University of Cambridge’s Bennett Institute offers insights about the meaning, measurement and relevance of townscapes and pride in place as a focus for boosting the economic and social wellbeing of our towns and cities. This townscapes and pride in place report is a recommended read for anyone grappling with the Levelling…
Brighton & Hove is the latest location to launch Park Active as a new way into town by travelling actively and sustainably. Working with the British Parking Association (BPA), Brighton and Hove City Council has launched three ‘Park Active’ car parks that enable motorists to complete their journeys actively by walking and cycling. When a fully…