Category Archives: Downtown

Ghosts in the Rockies

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Leigh Sparks

In one of the many ironies of destroying my knee in May, we were left with a race against time to see if I was fit enough to go on a booked holiday in late August and early September. Would … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Architecture, Buildings, Canada, Corporate branding, Downtown, Ghost Signs, Heritage, High Streets, Historic Shops, Places, Retail History, Signage, Small Towns, Streetscapes, Urban History, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Oor Summit’ and its Big Ears

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

Towards the end of the first day of the World Towns Leadership Summit in Edinburgh last week, Neil McInroy tried to describe and capture the sense of engagement and endeavour that the delegates were displaying and he used the phrase … Continue reading →

Posted in ATCM, Bids Scotland, Community, Community Development, Connectivity, Data, Downtown, IDA, Leadership, Local Retailers, Places, Public Realm, Reinvention, Retail Change, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Social Justice, Sustainability, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Understanding Scottish Places, University of Stirling, Urban, World Towns Agreement, World Towns Framework, WTLS16 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

World Towns Leadership Summit 2016

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

The next two days will see almost 200 delegates from across the world and the UK assemble in Edinburgh for the inaugural World Towns Leadership Summit. Stemming from an initial idea from the International Downtown Association, picked up by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ATCM, BIDS, Bids Scotland, Downtown, Government, IDA, Leadership, Places, Policy, Public Realm, Relationships, Scotland, Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Urban, World Towns Agreement, WTLS16 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Simplifying Town Centre Planning

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

There are many reasons why out-of-town development/greenfield development is the preferred option for many activities and development. Beyond retail we see cinemas, offices, hotels, sports facilities, schools – the list goes on – moving out of town centres. Some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Governance, High Streets, Places, Planning, Proactive Planning, Public Realm, Regeneration, Retail Planning, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Simplified Planning Zones, Streetscapes, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centres, Towns, Understanding Scottish Places | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A (Retail) Sense of Place

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

Reflecting on the almost four and a half years of doing this blog, there appear to be two dominant themes. Not surprisingly for a Professor of Retail Studies, there has been a fair amount about retailing and the changing fortunes … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Change, Consumer Choice, Downtown, Government, High Streets, Internet shopping, Places, Public Realm, Reinvention, Retail Planning, Retail Policy, Small Towns, Stirling, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Understanding Scottish Places | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Only in America?

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

Despite having lived in the USA for extended periods of time I am still unclear about my favourite parts.  The western swathe from New Mexico to Wyoming is unique, but the south-eastern states often draw me back. So following a … Continue reading →

Posted in Department Stores, Downtown, Heritage, Local Retailers, Localisation, Regeneration, Regulation, USA | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment