Blog/Opinion Piece

Chair of IPM, Professor Cathy Parker, was interviewed on location at Grubs Boots in Bolton for BBC Breakfast this morning. "Bad weather - wet, windy, or unusually cold, does reduce overall footfall figures, which then impacts negatively on retail sales - people don’t like getting wet", she said..

Early information on Town Boards established to deliver the government’s Long Term Plan for Towns investment indicates that over 90% are chaired by men.

The creation of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) nationally offers a promising avenue for inclusive economic development, blending cultural, economic, and place-making strategies to support local businesses and revive high streets.

Tom Whittington, Director Commercial Research, Savills and Fellow of the Institute of Place Management discusses why green retail development makes for a better economic strategy. 

Conservative MP Jack Brereton, representing Stoke-on-Trent South, has introduced the High Streets (Designation, Review, and Improvement Plan) Bill, with members debating how to support high street renewal and referencing the findings of the High Streets Task Force.

To turn around a narrative of high street decline, we need to support councils to lead and animate their placee, Matt Colledge FIPM writes. This means expanding leadership and involving those ready to step forward and help.

“We won't succeed by doing the same things that we have for the last 50+ years only a little less badly. If we don't change course more radically it will be too late.” The words of Prof Leigh Sparks MA, PhD, CF, FRSE, Professor of Retail Studies, Deputy Principal at the University of Stirling, Chair of Scotland's Towns Partnership and IPM Senior Fellow, in the first of two pres ...

The Institute of Place Management welcomes the government’s publication of its “Long Term Plan for Towns”, which is providing new funding to support 55 towns to invest in local people’s priorities against the three key themes of ‘safety and security’, ‘high streets, heritage and regeneration’ and ‘transport and connectivity’.

Two IPM Senior Fellows, the Institute’s Interim CEO Ian Harvey and Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director, MRI Springboard, were guests on a BBC Radio 4 ‘You and Yours’ programme on 19^th September 2023, called How well does your high street work for you?

With anti-social behaviour and crime continuing to act as a major barrier holding back UK high streets, Joe Barratt asks what role placemaking should play in making our streets safer?