Tag Archives: Regeneration

Town Centres in Wales: Bounded Muscularity?

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Leigh Sparks

A few months ago I, together with Phil Prentice (STP), had a long discussion with representatives of Audit Wales around enhancing town centres.  This came in the wake of the review I chaired, and the report I authored, for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Government, High Streets, Out of Town, Places, Regeneration, Retail Change, Retail Policy, Scotland, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Small Towns, Town Centre Action Plan, town centre first, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Understanding Scottish Places, Understanding Welsh Places, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dead or Alive?

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Leigh Sparks

A few weeks ago I was reading an interview in the Guardian and the interviewee, the writer Barbara Kingsolver, said about the Great Barrier Reef: “You’re hearing about everything that dies, you’re not hearing about everything that’s still alive.  If … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Consumers, Local Retailers, Localisation, Regeneration, Reinvention, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Small Shops, Small Towns, Town Centres, Towns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Time Out in Lisbon: Part One

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Leigh Sparks

It has been some time since I was in Lisbon and thus it was a pleasure to receive an invite to present a keynote to a conference on retail, consumption and urban governance, especially in early autumn, which is slightly … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Architecture, Brands, Eataly, Emporium Shokuhin, Food and Beverage, Food Court, Food Tourism, Gastronomy, Historic Shops, History, Lisbon, Markets, Places, Regeneration, Retailers, Scotland Food and Drink, Singapore, Time Out, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Unlocking the Potential of Scotland’s Towns

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Leigh Sparks

For most in Scotland, November 9th will probably be recalled as the day President Trump became a reality.  The irony that that day was the 27th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall will not be lost on some … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Creative Places, Digital, Fife, Government, High Streets, Places, Planning, Proactive Planning, Regeneration, Retail Change, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Small Towns, Town Centre Action Plan, town centre first, Town Centre Living, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, WTLS16 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

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

A Sense of Place

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Leigh Sparks

A few months ago I was approached to write a short piece for “Context – the magazine of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation” as part of a collected set of items on The Changing Face of Retail. A couple … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, High Streets, Historic Shops, History, Places, Signage, Spaces, Streetscapes, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Small Business Saturday and Craft Town Scotland

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Leigh Sparks

I am not wholly convinced about Small Business Saturday, which took place on the 6th December. Another US import, it is now in its second year in this country. It has had an impact and a lot of publicity and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Community Development, Craft Town, Crafts, Design, High Streets, Independents, Local Retailers, Places, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Small Business Saturday, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2014: Quick Reaction

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Leigh Sparks

The flagship national event of Scotland’s Towns Week is Scotland’s Towns Conference, held this year on the 19th November, in the magnificent Paisley Town Hall. Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership – Scotland’s ‘go-to’ organisation for Scotland’s Towns – this year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital, Entrepreneurship, Government, High Streets, Public Realm, Regeneration, Retail Policy, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Town Centre Regeneration – Learning Lessons?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Leigh Sparks

A few weeks ago the long-awaited Douglas Wheeler Associates report on “Town Centre Regeneration: how does it work and what can be achieved?” was published by the Scottish Government. Four parts are available for download on the website; Summary, Report, … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, High Streets, Places, Regeneration, Retail Diversity, Retail Policy, Retailers, Scotland's Town and High Streets, TCRF, Town Centres, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments