Policy

Africa’s rapid urbanisation and socio-economic challenges, coupled with escalating inequality (Woyo and Tafirenyika, 2024) and the impacts of climate change, suggest the critical importance of sustainable placemaking. Urban spaces across the continent are increasingly pressured to respond to complex issues related to population growth, environmental degradation, and socio-econo ...

The Institute of Place Management is pleased to confirm that Dr Lucy Montague will represent Manchester Metropolitan University at an upcoming roundtable hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Towns.

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 ...

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 ...

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 Friday 4th April, the Institute of Place Management was delighted to host a delegation of 25 researchers from the Telemark Research Institute, Norway for a day of international knowledge exchange at Manchester Metropolitan University. The visit was jointly organised by Dr Nikos Ntounis SFIPM and Dr Regine Sønderland Saga of Telemark, with the aim of exploring deeper collabor ...

The Slovenian government have drawn upon a report published by Manchester Metropolitan University researchers to inform amendments to the Slovenia Hospitality Act.  The phenomenon of short-term rentals (STRs) of residential properties is an ongoing challenge for many cities globally. The development of STR platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia has led to the t ...

Ian Harvey attends the High Street Rental Auction Showcase Event where detail of the government's new policy to address long-term vacant shops was unveiled.

The latest Budget announcement offers new funding streams and policy updates relevant to town and city centres. Professor Cathy Parker provides a full analysis.