With the February launch of the UK Government’s much-awaited White Paper, we ask what are the opportunities for Levelling Up our town and city centres. Restoring pride in place The apparent good news about opportunities for levelling up for our town and city centres is that restoring a sense of community, local pride and belonging…
One of the good news stories to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic was the temporary reduction in rough sleepers. As our town and city centres reopen, what are the prospects for capturing the learning and taking post-pandemic steps for ending rough sleeping on our streets? Rapid progress during pandemic As the charity Crisis reported in…
Colchester is the first town in the country piloting Park Active as a more sustainable route into town centres. The approach is part of a national pilot programme being led by the British Parking Association (BPA) and supported by the UK Government. Simple idea The central idea for Park Active is simple: to encourage motorists…
New national planning policies that come fully into effect in summer 2021, may result in changing the town centre business mix across England. Here we summarise the changes. Under the new use class and permitted development rights systems, shops, for example, can now be changed to professional and financial services; medium-sized cafes or restaurants; offices;…
What is the new parking code and why might it matter to the vitality of town and city centres? Amongst a raft of new measures recently heralded by the government as helping to prepare our high streets and seaside resorts for summer reopening, was an announcement of changes to private parking enforcement. The government said…
The People & Places Partnership is teaming-up with Proximity Futures to combine the two companies’ expertise on how customers are using town and city centres, as they reopen and seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Case studies showing potential Joint work on case studies on tracking Nuneaton’s footfall through the COVID-19 pandemic and quarterly…
With the Governments’ roadmap out of lockdown in England published for all to navigate, what are the potential greenlights and bottlenecks that this signals for town centre place managers and businesses? The initial analysis undertaken by the People & Places Partnership of the lockdown roadmap’s greenlights and bottlenecks, indicates that town centre place managers and…
The winter extension of Oxford’s alfresco hospitality is a great example of how many town and city centres have responded creatively to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the latest in our series of national case case studies prepared for the Local Government Association, Oxford’s on-street alfresco hospitality offer is another great example…
The People & Places Partnership is working with Selby District Council, in association with Sherburn in Elmet Parish Council, Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust and Sherburn in Elmet Business Network, in revitalising the village centre. This page provides access to resources created as part of this work, as well as links to related guidance. Revitalising…
Like many local authorities across the country, one of the challenges facing Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council as part of its COVID-19 recovery planning, was adapting and advancing its existing commitment to place leadership and planning in Shirley and other towns. The ‘how’ and the ‘what’ of recovery & revitalisation The solution for place leadership and…