befs dwa fin 201112
TRANSCRIPT
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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