Welcome to the September edition of the IPM Bulletin

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is being described as the “biggest transfer
of power in a generation.” At the same time, the Government’s Backing Your Business report highlights
a critical gap: many councils lack the place management capacity needed to drive renewal.

Together, these developments raise urgent questions: will devolution be a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to empower places, or another missed chance that leaves communities behind? This is an
issue we reflect on in the September IPM Bulletin, and it’s also something that Dr Nikos Ntounis, Editor
of the Journal of Place Management and Development, would like to hear your views on through a
potential Viewpoint contribution. Read more on all of the above in the Bulletin below.