IPM evidence published by Parliament’s Housing Committee
The Institute of Place Management’s written evidence to the inquiry into revitalising high streets has been published as evidence by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
22 October 2026
The Committee has accepted and published the Institute of Place Management’s (IPM) written submission to its inquiry into revitalising high streets. The evidence will help inform the Committee’s deliberations.
IPM’s submission argues that high-street policy needs a lasting way to connect policy, evidence, local capacity and learning. This would help places build on what has already been learned, rather than having to start again with each new initiative.
The submission was informed by university research and roundtable discussions convened by IPM with the High Street Consultancy. Held to help shape IPM’s input to the Government’s emerging High Streets Strategy, the discussions brought together practitioners, policymakers, researchers and sector organisations from across the UK. The Government is expected to publish the Strategy later this year.
Five strategic recommendations
IPM’s submission makes five recommendations:
- Unify policy: bring investment, business support, rates, planning, transport and community policy into a coherent, long-term framework.
- Build evidence and evaluation infrastructure: help places diagnose local needs and track change, while enabling Government to learn what works.
- Fund local capacity alongside investment: recognise leadership, partnership development, analysis and delivery as essential to regeneration.
- Provide continuity of professional support: sustain the evidence, learning and support functions demonstrated by the High Streets Task Force.
- Make learning part of the system: retain evidence from places and programmes and use it to shape future policy.
IPM is grateful to all members who contributed to the development of the evidence, including through the May roundtables and other discussions. Their experience and insight helped shape the submission.
IPM welcomes opportunities to discuss the evidence with MPs and parliamentary colleagues as it develops its engagement with Parliament. Members and partners are encouraged to share the submission with their MP.
