Blog/Opinion Piece

Just weeks after the local elections and amid growing momentum for local government reorganisation, the Institute of Place Management convened a national online event to explore a critical question: What role should town centres play in the UK’s evolving devolution agenda?   Chaired by Ian Harvey, Head of the Institute, the session brought together speakers from national bodies ...

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 ...

On 28 March 2025, a group of Institute of Place Management members convened an online closed-door discussion to explore the evolving landscape of devolution in England. Chaired by IPM Fellow Graham Galpin, the session brought together senior voices from across academia, regeneration, local government, civic society and consultancy to engage in a candid conversation on the futur ...

To mark World Health Day 2025, the Institute of Place Management is pleased to share this guest blog by Esther Worboys, IPM Fellow and experienced place practitioner, reflecting on how the places we live, work and shop in can directly shape our health and wellbeing. This year, the World Health Day theme is maternal and new-born health – an issue of global urgency and deep local ...

At the Institute of Place Management, we are committed to leading the conversation about the future of high streets and town centres, particularly in the context of changing local government structures and the ongoing devolution agenda. We are therefore pleased to share this thought-provoking piece from Graham Galpin, a Fellow of the IPM, former High Streets Task Force Expert, ...

The Crime and Policing Bill 2025 is a comprehensive piece of legislation currently under consideration in the UK Parliament. Introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025, the bill aims to address various aspects of crime, policing, and public safety. The debate encompassed various aspects of the bill, including its potential impact on neighbourhood policing and measur ...

Placemaking Canada is a network of mostly grassroots organizations focused on placemaking and public space that recognises the nature of the Canadian context, including regulatory and funding issues, climate and geography.

Professor Cathy Parker MBE was invited to chair the recent OECD Re-Imagining Town Centres webinar, held in November 2024.

Across Lincoln, remarkable transformations are happening. From the charm of quiet cobbled lanes to the innovation bubbling in cutting-edge labs, the city is alive with a buzz, an infectious confidence in its future.