Levelling Up: The role of policy, places and people
Professor Cathy Parker Chair, Institute of Place Management
Lead, High Streets Task Force
Research
Michael Gove
“From day one, the defining mission of this government has been to level up this country, to break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live you have access to the same opportunities.”
Boris Johnson
“For decades, too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued. As some areas have flourished, others have been left in a cycle of decline.”
Gross Disposable Household Income (per head) by Local Authority Source: ONS
Indices of Multiple
Deprivation Source: ONS
The role of policy
• Future High Streets Fund • Capital£675m • Towns Fund • Capital and infrastructure£3.6bn • Levelling Up Fund • Capital and infrastructure£4bn • UK Shared Prosperity Fund • Capital and revenue£2.6bn
The role of places
1987 • Town Centre Management 1993 • Planning Policy Guidance 6 1994 • Vital & Viable Town Centres 2005 • Business Improvement Districts 2006 • High Street Britain 2015 2011 • Portas Review • Town Teams • Understanding High Street Performance 2013 • Grimsey 1 • Future High Streets Forum 2018 • Grimsey 2 • Future High Street Forum 2 • Select Committee Inquiry • HS Fund + Taskforce + Towns Fund 2021/2 • High streets strategy • Shared Prosperity Fund • Levelling Up Tools, policies, recommendations for a placed-based approach
Failure of policy to make change happen in places
• Change is pursued that is not consistent with best practice in local development –challenges and interventions are not local enough
• Leaders fail to exhibit a task or achievement orientation – there is no agenda for bringing about betterment (all strategy and little action)
• Building relationships with businesses and maintaining community engagement are not valued. Role of local place leaders and visions not respected
• No or too few resources are allocated to bring about change – especially, to empower and develop place partnerships
It puts place at the heart of policy, decisionmaking and action
What is a place-based approach?
It focuses on geographies/areas that are functional and have meaning (e.g. towns)
It draws on the assets in communities and addresses their challenges
It ‘joins up’ policies and funding
It builds leadership, management and coordination capacity
#1 How much influence each factor has on the vitality and viability of a town centre? #2 How much control a location has over the factor?
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5How much control over a factor Get on with it! Forget it Live with it Not worth it How much each factor influences vitality and viability
Get on with it! ACTIVITY RETAIL OFFER VISION & STRATEGY EXPERIENCE APPEARANCE PLACE MANAGEMENT NECESSITIES ANCHORS NON-RETAIL OFFER MERCHANDISE WALKING PLACE MARKETING DIVERSITY NETWORKS & PARTNERSHIPS ATTRACTIVENESS MARKETS RECREATIONAL SPACE BARRIERS TO NEW ENTRANTS SAFETY/CRIME LIVEABLE ADAPTABILITY ACCESSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FUNCTIONALITY INNOVATION 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.9 How much town can influence factor/group How much factor/group influences vitality and viability
Booksellers as placemakers
…..
The research survey
….transformed each of the 25 priorities into actions that booksellers might engage in… e.g. ACTIVITY • I adjust my store's opening hours to times when the town is busy • My store takes part in late-night shopping schemes at Christmas • I sometimes open the store, out of normal times, to support town events • I have access to footfall data for the town
Activity
of booksellers contribute to the activation of the high street.
94%
"We collaborate on issues such as opening hours and safety protocols, so that there is a level of consistency across the High Street."
Ranking % of booksellers who contribute Ranking % of booksellers who contribute 1. Diversity 100% 14. Recreational space 91% 2. Innovation 99% 15. Adaptability 91% 3. Merchandise 99% 16. Retail offer 88% 4. Appearance 99% 17. Redevelopment plans 86% 5. Walking 98% 18. Necessities 86% 6. Place marketing 98% 19. Networks and partnerships with council 80% 7. Liveable 97% 20. Markets 76% 8. Experience 97% 21. Barriers to entry 75% 9. Functionality 96% 22. Vision and strategy 69% 10. Activity 94% 23. Safety/crime 58% 11. Non-retail offer 94% 24. Place management 43% 12. Anchors 94% 25. Accessibility 38% 13. Attractiveness 94%
Non-retail offer
94% of booksellers contribute to the non-retail offer and attractions on the high street.
"We work a lot with local schools - both the privileged and the less so. We organise authors to go into schools to talk to and meet children. We host groups of children in the bookshop for all sorts of activities. Storytelling for younger children, book clubs for older. This has a cyclical benefit for the whole high street - encourages children and their parents to visit both us and other shops around us."
Liveable
97% of booksellers contribute to the liveability of their area.
"We encourage our elderly customers to pop in even if it's just for a sit down and a chat, sometimes we're the only people they have spoken to."
Experience
of
the experience and of their centre
97%
booksellers contribute to
"We occasionally like to hide books around town to give something back to our customers and visitors to the town."
Attractiveness
94% of booksellers contribute to the economic attractiveness of the high street.
"We have taken on a unit that has been vacant for two years, and, opening in April this year, turned it into a vibrant part of the high street."
Merchandise
99% of booksellers contribute to the range/quality of goods on offer
"Our shop sells rare, collectable and second-hand books. We buy our stock from the local community, which supports the local circular economy. Our customers are our suppliers too, so we are perhaps even more embedded in the community than a bookshop that sells new products."
Appearance
99% of booksellers contribute to the appearance and cleanliness of their local area
"We work with local groups such as The Rural social Scheme and The Men's Shed to enhance the appearance of the village."
Necessities
86% of booksellers contribute to necessities and general facilities on the high street.
"It is shop policy that we welcome and support all customers:- allowing them to use the toilet, being very welcoming to children, making a cup of tea and providing an ear to someone who is having a bad day."
Networks and partnerships with council
80% of booksellers contribute to networks and partnerships with council and community leadership on the high street.
"We work closely with other businesses and the local council, to provide a range of events for the community: markets, children's entertainment, mini festivals."
Barriers to entry
75% of booksellers contribute to reducing barriers to entry and supporting new businesses on the high street.
“We offer tailored work experience for local young adults and teenagers."
Vision and strategy
69% of booksellers contribute to vision and strategy and collaboration on the high street.
"I am always seeking ways of involving others in town regeneration, I have noticed recently some individual initiatives for example a resident putting out planted tubs, the men's shed adopting a passage way and providing seating and plants. Perhaps more support for local ideas less emphasis on the "big" ideas and "strategies" more grass roots.“
"I am also a local councillor and am involved in Planning/Regeneration/Environment of the area, including co chairing with the City of London revitalising Petticoat Lane Market.“
A working assessment of booksellers ▪ Passionate & energetic ▪ Resourceful & adaptable ▪ Full of ideas and willing to try them ▪ Forward and outward looking ▪ Natural exemplars of best-practice
“Inspirational local leaders, working in collaboration with all sections of their community have put a buzz back into their town centre”
The High Street Report 2018: Timpson
Levelling Up: Dependent on policy, places and people
Questions
Thank you! www.placemanagement.org ipm@mmu.ac.uk
It puts place at the heart of policy, decision-making and action
What is a place-based approach?
It focuses on geographies/areas that are functional and have meaning (e.g. towns)
It draws on the assets in communities and addresses their challenges
It ‘joins up’ policies and funding
It builds leadership, management and coordination capacity (partnerships) at the local level
builds leadership, management
It puts place at the heart of policy, decision-making and action It focuses on geographies/areas that are functional and have meaning (e.g. towns) It draws on the assets in communities and addresses their challenges It ‘joins up’ policies and funding It
and coordination capacity (partnerships) at the local level Go to www.menti.com and use the code 7512 5710
www.placemanagement.org
