Latest News

In this timely and thought-provoking piece, Jean Ball SFIPM explores the evolving - and often contested - meanings of the words ‘Place’ and ‘Local’ in the context of placemaking, devolution, and civic participation. Drawing on recent IPM roundtable discussions and her own reflections, Jean challenges us to consider how language, scale, and democratic structures shape people’s s ...

The challenge of delivering inclusive, affordable, and sustainable housing is one shared by communities across the world. While the contexts may vary, the question at the heart of the issue remains the same: Who gets to decide what our places become? In this article, Dr Patrick Collins draws on original research in rural Ireland to explore how power, participation, and planning ...

"May you live in interesting times" - I’m told this is an old Chinese proverb. It certainly applies to our current scenario. Many of us believe that local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution are essential to the future of strategic governance in England. Others see these changes as potentially anti-democratic. But I suggest this is a unique opportunity to empower loc ...

The Institute of Place Management is pleased to share The MIMBY Majority: How to unlock housebuilding with early and representative public participation in planning, a new report from Demos, Britain’s leading cross-party think tank, supported by the Royal Town Planning Institute . The report was launched recently at an event near Parliament, featuring a thought-provoking panel ...

Dr Jenny Kanellopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Institute of Place Management, visits Chicago as part of IPM’s ongoing internationalisation work to build a global community of place managers and leaders.

Ian Harvey, Head of the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, will take centre stage as the opening keynote speaker at the Libraries Connected Annual Seminar this June. The event, taking place 10–11 June at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, brings together library leaders, local government, and community partners from across the country. This yea ...

As part of its continuing commitment to sharing best practice in place management, the Institute of Place Management  recently hosted a webinar with Lindsay Smith, Economic Growth Programme Manager at Cheshire West and Chester Council, to shine a light on Northwich’s success in the Visa Let's Celebrate Towns Awards. Hosted by Ian Harvey, Head of the IPM, the session formed part ...

We are delighted to confirm Dr Nicola Headlam as a keynote speaker at the upcoming IPM Place Platform Symposium, taking place on Tuesday 17th June 2025 at The Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY Dr Headlam is a Policy Fellow at the University of Birmingham’s LPIP (Leadership for Place-based Innovation and Policy) and the host of Placecast, a new p ...

On 15 May 2025, the Institute of Place Management was proud to represent our work at Manchester Metropolitan University’s first-ever Parliamentary Showcase, held at the Houses of Parliament. The event brought together MPs, peers, and policymakers with senior academics, researchers, and professional staff to highlight the University’s wide-ranging contributions to national prior ...

The Institute of Place Management is proud to partner with Visa and Stonehaven to host two special lunchtime webinars celebrating the winners of the Visa #LetsCelebrateTowns Awards. These short, engaging sessions will spotlight the towns leading the way in creating vibrant, inclusive, and resilient places. Hosted by Ian Harvey SFIPM FRSA, Head of IPM and one of the judges for t ...