Policy

Powers to allow councils to ‘force’ landlords to let highstreet premises that have been empty for more than a year, have been outlined in the Queen’s Speech. Iain Nicholson and Prof Cathy Parker look at the proposals and ask what the impact could be for high streets.

The new UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6bn until 2025, but needs local places leaders to shape investment plans now.

Professor Cathy Parker, IPM Co-Chair and Research Lead for the High Streets Task Force, appeared on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours on 3^rd January 2022, marking 10 years since the Portas Pilots and looking at the topic of ‘High Street Revival’.

Prof. Cathy Parker reviews the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee report on 'Supporting high streets during COVID-19', providing a summary for place managers in England.

The BID Foundation, along with over 100 UK destinations, has written to the Prime Minster to urge government to provide a ‘Business Booster’ of support measures amidst concern about further restrictions and as many businesses struggle to survive.

In this 'long read', Professor Cathy Parker takes a look at what levelling up and other place-based policy might mean for those leading towns and cities in the UK.

Reflecting on the budget and the long-awaited annual spending review, Christian Spence, Head of Economic Analytics at the Future Economies Research Centre and Cathy Parker, Co-Chair of the Institute of Place Management share their thoughts.

On Tuesday 19^th October, a Westminster Hall debate led by Janet Daby MP considered the topic of support for UK high streets, hearing from a range of MPs and UK towns.