Regeneration
Questions over councils' regeneration role
A lack of funds and expertise prevents local authorities from reversing the decline of many town centres, MPs have heard.
Jenrick announces delayed £830m high street investment
The Government has finally announced the 72 areas that will benefit from millions of pounds of funding as part of the effort to help high streets recover from the impact of the pandemic.
A good port in a storm?
Rishi Sunak says freeports will cut red tape and taxes for UK businesses. But are they the right cure for economically ailing places? Ann McGauran reports.
Canal project offers immense scope to regenerate
It is uplifting to reflect that a canal which shaped the district in the past will do so again in the future - forming a significant part of Stroud's plans to recover from the pandemic, says Kathy O'Leary.
Guiding freeport proposals in the Thames Estuary
Kate Willard and Perry Glading outline the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s guiding principles for freeport proposals, based on six key areas.
Why town centres have intergenerational appeal
We will need many more affordable homes in the heart of our communities that work for people of all ages if we are serious about building a society for all generations, say Stephen Burke and Roland Karthaus.
Liverpool mayor believed to be one of five arrested in police investigation
Liverpool City Council Mayor Joe Anderson is believed to be one of five people arrested as part of an ‘ongoing investigation’, local newspaper reports have claimed.
Getting up to speed in a COVID world
Kate Watts shares her experiences of returning to work after a year’s maternity leave and adjusting to the major changes brought by coronavirus.
Solving town centres’ Rubik’s cube conundrum
Ensuring town centres are both vital and viable is not easy, writes Professor Cathy Parker. She says redefining them requires the strengthening of collective capacity through restructuring, repositioning, rebranding and reinventing.
Comeback for our communities
Tracey Crews says that while changes in retailing will inevitably lead to a retracted high street, the aim in Cheltenham is to bring back community to the town centre amidst a thriving mix of complementary uses.
Made in Dagenham
Graeme Cooke explains how Barking and Dagenham LBC turned a derelict industrial site in East London into the future home of London’s biggest film and TV studios.
Building Back Better and Stronger
Karen Whelan says local communities, businesses and learning institutions, working with their public authorities and Government, can unite to re-shape their local vision for towns and cities.
HOUSING: The power of perseverance and partnerships in placemaking
Jake Fellows says a partnership approach such as the one between ENGIE UK and Rotherham MBC can often prove to be key when faced with the task of unlocking and transforming a complex site.
Rebooting the housing crisis
Tackling the housing crisis post-COVID will mean more than just building. We need to build health, wellbeing and communities as well as houses, argues Tony Clements.
Allocation of £3.6bn towns fund appears 'politically motivated,' says watchdog
The Government has been accused of 'political bias' when allocating funding from its £3.6bn Towns Fund by the public spending watchdog.
Seven areas across England set to receive nearly £180m investment
Communities in seven areas across England are set to benefit from up to £178.7m in new Town Deals, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
The Future of town centres
Councils, ‘as the ultimate reserve buyer with wider civic responsibilities’ are likely to end up owning shopping centres, says Richard White. He offers some advice on how to make high streets work.
Trust districts to do what’s needed
A lower PWLB borrowing rate would make a significant difference to the viability and deliverability of regeneration schemes, argues Simone Hines.
Where next for high streets and city centres?
The Towns Fund selection process was controversial, but high streets and city centres face a bigger existential crisis. Ann McGauran reports.
Grappling with the long tail of the pandemic
It doesn’t matter how much the capacity and availability of testing is increased or how much the contact-tracing system is improved if people are simply going to ignore the instructions, says Claire Kober.
