With millions of new homes to be built it's easy to focus on the 'units' needed rather the sense of place and neighbourhood being created.The same can be said about the rise, in some town centres, in vacant properties and a need to relet them...
Despite the London tube strike, many people made it via boat, bike and Overground, to Roca London Gallery where our director, Diane was taking part in a talk on meanwhile use. Celebrating temporary users Helen Parton had assembled Diane, Jan Kattein, Mary Otumahana, Amy Lamé and...
Our director, Diane, returned to Barking and Dagenham in East London six years after working on a 10-year vision for the town centre.It was fantastic to see how much development had progressed in a challenging environment and what's firmly underway. She takes on around the...
As funding for places changes with major schemes ending in the past 12 months and the replacement for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund unknown, we have been thinking about how to achieve the best outcomes from projects for local authorities and practitioners. What can commissioners and...
Birkenhead has secured £80-90m in government funding and now, there is a chance to create a new future that brings meaningful opportunities for all. But, is this enough to deliver beneficial change. Background Birkenhead is located opposite Liverpool and run by Wirral Council. It’s a place which has...
How Huyton Village went from having the worst Christmas tree to a huge Christmas light switch on. Huyton Village went from being mocked for the ‘worst Christmas tree of the year’ (over many years) to 2,500+ people turning out for a Christmas light switch-on, When we...
As another year draws to a close, there is time to reflect and give some thought to how the year ahead might start. 2024 saw us working on projects across the country; reviving high streets, guiding partnership structures, considering the future of markets and interim roles...
It was a big week for high streets this week with the conclusion of the High Streets Task Force (HSTF) and the publication of the Lords Report. High Streets Task Force: IPM Reflects on Five Years of Revitalising England’s High StreetsAt an event in Manchester hosted...
Back in 2021, our director, Diane completed research on attracting businesses and investment to seaside towns for an MSc in Place Management & Leadership focusing on New Brighton, near Liverpool and Folkestone in Kent.Diane returns to both towns regularly and it’s always good to see...
The High Streets Task Force (HSTF) winds down this month (September), but what impact has it had, and what are the lessons for high street renewal moving forward? Set up in 2019, HSTF was commissioned by the government as part of its Plan for the High...