1. BEFS Annual Congress: Linlithgow
2o November 2010

2. •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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Small Towns: Distinctive Places:
Scale & Function
Region Whole settlement Town centre Block Plot
•Economic: business not just retail
•Community: civic
•Place: buildings & space

6. 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

7. 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

8. •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?

9. •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

10. STRATEGY STRUCTURE &
COMPONENTS
Town Vision
Community Place Economy
Place Making:
Buildings & Sites Marketing & Branding
Environmental
Improvements: ‘Glue’ Visitor Destination
Improvements ‘Magnets’
Enterprise & Business
Development
Parking &
Accessibility

11. 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

12. • 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’

13. •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

14. 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

15. •Regeneration through re-branding: themes
•Internet: effective web sites
•Engage VistScotland & Creative Scotland
•Family friendly guide: directory
•Local food sourcing & marketing
•Orientation & navigation: interpretation

16. •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

17. www.douglaswheelerassociates.com