BEFS Annual Congress: Linlithgow2o November 2010

•Definitions & Context

•TCR Regeneration Research: Economic Drivers

•Small Towns: Response to Challenges

• Retail business• Culture & creative industries • Place & local property owners• Marketing

•Conclusions: Way Forward

Projects•Northern Ireland: DSD•N England: RDAs Market Town Initiatives•Scotland: Town Centre Regeneration Research

Skills•Land use & urban design: place intervention

• spatial strategies• development frameworks• master plans

•Local economic development•Involvement & delivery

DEFINITIONS & CONTEXT

Predominant: only 25 more than 30,000 pop SG Urban Rural Classification (6):

- large urban: 39.1%/ 60.9% by population

- 0ther urban: 3o.4%

- accessible small towns: 8.7%

- remote small rural: 3.7%

- accessible rural: 11.6%

- remote rural: 6.5% SRUC vulnerability index (2011-12 data)

- unemployment, out-migration, decline in services

Small Towns: Distinctive Places: Scale & Function

Region Whole settlement Town centre Block Plot

•Economic: business not just retail•Community: civic•Place: buildings & space

TCR RESEARCH: KEY FINDINGS

• Complex concept: multi-dimensional issues• ‘Whole town’: rather than focus just on physical

• Town centre: scale distinctiveness: context• Partnership: vision: strategy: action plan• Partnership is not an outcome:

- need effective coordinated delivery

• Small/medium business: limited data • Community ownership of assets• Improving TCR project planning• Improving: TC health checks• Applying Theories of Change

SMALL TOWNS AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS Local service centres: hinterland e.g.

health care Jobs: independent businesses Infrastructure: assets /liabilities &

investment Community capital: relationships &

networks Broadband infrastructure: connected Enterprise: growth & start ups Visitor economy

•Demographic & social change

•Economic recovery: consumer confidence & demand

•Technology: internet & e-commerce

•Niche consumer markets•Changing expectations & service quality

•Climate change: low carbon economy

•Knowledge based economy

- new skills & aptitudes-lifestyle: social media

•UK ‘big four’: 76.4% grocery shopping: - one stop: consumer choice?

•What kind of town? •Vision: strategy: action plan

•Integrated whole town strategy: more than High Street

•Coordinated delivery: town & wider area

•Three sectors involved: ‘town team’: one voice

•Coordinator & facilitator: agitator

•Target small independent business: negative on retail & apathy

•Affordable housing

•More than just investment in public realm/buildings

•Stimulate confidence: compelling economic case

STRATEGY STRUCTURE & COMPONENTS

Town Vision

Community Place Economy

Parking & Accessibility

Enterprise & Business

Development

Visitor Destination Improvements ‘Magnets’

Environmental Improvements:

‘Glue’

Place Making: Buildings & Sites Marketing & Branding

RETAIL BUSINESS INITIATIVES

Retailers struggling: apathy & poor perception Limited data: e.g. Local Data Company Targeted ‘internal’ support:

- workshops/events & advisor support- customer service & merchandising: ILA- e-commerce - social media: ‘communities of interest’

Shared town centre marketing: involve PLCs Events based marketing: public realm Interest in: independent specialist consultation:

- Master Classes

- Shop Doctor: Dumfries

- 1-1 Retail Business Support: Scottish Borders Enterprise & Start Ups:

- ‘Retail Rocks’: Aberdeen/Torry

- Retail Incubators

• History & cultural heritage • ‘Making’ facilities & commercial outlets• Pilot incubator • Active creative networks• Community ownership & ‘community anchors’• Cultural industries & arts crafts: visitor

economy• Events & festivals• Visitor packages: ‘Hand Made Holidays’

•Distinctive & diverse: authentic ‘spirit of place’

•Mixed use: vertical & horizontal

•Town Centre Living: affordable ‘hidden homes’

•Townscape Heritage Initiative/HLF: end use enterprise

•Business Premises Renovation Allowance: tax incentives

•Shop fronts design: business development

•Enterprise hubs & incubators

SMALL TOWNS & LOCAL OWNERS Local owners & landlords: attitudes & upward rent

reviews Part of the solution: ‘distressed property’ Simplified leases: RICS leasing code Tax relief on capital spend Benefits to owners

- Income stream: rented property - Safeguarding capital asset - Reduced Council tax & business rates

- Occupier responsibilities

•Regeneration through re-branding: themes

•Internet: effective web sites

•Engage VistScotland & Creative Scotland

•Family friendly guide: directory

•Local food sourcing & marketing

•Orientation & navigation: interpretation

•SG: National Review of Town Centres 3/4: test new initiatives?

•Whole town/integrated strategies & action plans

•Proactive & locally driven: one voice

•Focus small independent business & local owners

•Improve project planning: short/medium term outcomes

•Town facilitator/agitator

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