Tag Archives: Government

Business Rates: an election issue (not)

Posted on May 22, 2017 by

This blog has covered the issue of rates on a number of occasions (e.g. rates relief, a levy, some rates and the Grimsey report, the poll tax and business rates) never fully satisfactory, and indeed, re-reading the pieces, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Closure, Governance, Government, High Streets, Internet, Internet shopping, Large Store Levy, Mary Portas, Online Retailing, Places, Politicians, Public Health lev, Rates, Regulation, Retail Policy, Retailers, Store Closures, Tax, Town & Country PLanning, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Urban but not Anonymous”

Posted on November 18, 2015 by

With these words, Cord Soehlke, Mayor and Senior Planner for the University Town of Turbingen, Germany neatly summed up for me the differences and the challenges facing Scotland’s towns. As had been discussed earlier in the day at Scotland’s Towns … Continue reading →

Posted in Falkirk, Government, High Streets, Places, Planning, Property, Public Realm, Regeneration, Reinvention, Retail Planning, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Small Towns, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Rescuing town centres in the light of changing retail trends’

Posted on July 7, 2015 by

Given it was the hottest July day ever in the UK, it was some relief for the audience at the latest National Retail Planning Forum (NRPF) seminar to be indoors in air-conditioned luxury at Carter Jonas, just off teeming and … Continue reading →

Posted in Milton Keynes, Newport, Regeneration, Retailing, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blame the REF

Posted on January 7, 2015 by

The week before Christmas saw Universities across the UK in a state of heightened anticipation. Santa, in the form of the REF results was due, and for a surprisingly large number of Universities it will continue to be the gift … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, ESRC, Government, Planning, Retail Planning, Retailing, Scotland's Town and High Streets, University of Stirling | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Town Centre Action Plan – One Year On

Posted on November 5, 2014 by

At the Scotland’s Towns Partnership Conference in Inverness last November, I extracted a pledge/promise (but most definitely not a vow) from the Towns Minister Derek Mackay to, one year on, reflect on progress against his Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP). … Continue reading →

Posted in BIDS, Government, High Streets, Local Data Company, Planning, Public Realm, Rates, Regeneration, Rents, Retail Planning, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland’s Towns Partnership: new Chair Announced

Posted on April 16, 2014 by

It is not that I want another job – honest – but I really was delighted and honored to accept an invitation to become the Chair of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, which was announced this morning. I was also very flattered … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, High Streets, Retail Policy, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Town Centre Review, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Debating Points

Posted on January 18, 2014 by

On the 16th January there was a debate in the Scottish Parliament – not a long one mind – on the Government’s Town Centre Action Plan. The Official Record of the debate is available on the Parliament’s website and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, High Streets, Places, Rates, Regulation, Retail Diversity, Retail Policy, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Town Centre Review, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment