IPM Contributes to New Research on Town Centre Development in Norway
The Institute of Place Management (IPM) at Manchester Metropolitan University has collaborated with Telemarksforsking on a new report exploring the future development of the town centres of Lunde and Ulefoss in Nome municipality, Norway.
The report, Downtown Development in Lunde and Ulefoss, presents detailed site analyses designed to help strengthen the attractiveness, vitality, and long-term sustainability of the two centres. Funded by Sparebankstiftelsen Nome, the project combines international place management expertise with local knowledge and engagement. The digital resource can be accessed via Interactive resource: Site Analysis and 25 Priorities.
The work reflects IPM’s continued commitment to connecting research, policy, and practice internationally, while supporting communities to develop evidence-informed approaches to place development and regeneration.
The report draws on a wide range of research methods, including:
- Analysis of policy documents, statistics, and background data
- Street interviews with residents and visitors
- Observational town centre walks
- Workshops and group interviews with local stakeholders
The project also connects to IPM’s internationally recognised work on the ‘25 Priorities for Vital and Viable Town Centres’, which has helped shape thinking around town and city centre management both in the UK and internationally. IPM is currently reviewing and updating the 25 Priorities framework to reflect emerging challenges and opportunities facing places, including changing consumer behaviour, health and wellbeing, culture, sustainability, digital transformation, and the growing importance of mixed-use and multifunctional centres. The collaboration with Telemarksforsking provides further international insight into how the framework can continue to evolve in different local and regional contexts.
The report highlights the importance of partnership working, local leadership, and long-term collaboration in delivering successful place transformation. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations will help mobilise stakeholders across Nome municipality and support future action in both Lunde and Ulefoss.
This collaboration also builds on the growing international relationship between IPM and Telemarksforsking, particularly around shared interests in place leadership, town centre development, regeneration, and community-based approaches to shaping the future of places.
