This document summarizes the agenda and key topics from the BEFS Annual Congress on small town regeneration in Linlithgow, Scotland. The congress covered definitions of small towns, research findings on town centre regeneration, challenges facing small towns, and strategies to address those challenges. Specific discussion points included the role of retail businesses, culture/creative industries, local property owners, and marketing in regeneration efforts. The document advocates for whole-town integrated strategies and coordinated delivery between sectors to stimulate local economies and address issues like declining services in small towns.

1. BEFS Annual Congress: Linlithgow
2o November 2010

2. •Definitions & Context
•TCR Regeneration Research: Economic Drivers
•Small Towns: Response to Challenges
• Retail business
• Culture & creative industries
• Place & local property owners
• Marketing
•Conclusions: Way Forward

3. Projects
•Northern Ireland: DSD
•N England: RDAs Market Town Initiatives
•Scotland: Town Centre Regeneration Research
Skills
•Land use & urban design: place intervention
• spatial strategies
• development frameworks
• master plans
•Local economic development
•Involvement & delivery

4. DEFINITIONS & CONTEXT
 Predominant: only 25 more than 30,000 pop
 SG Urban Rural Classification (6):
- large urban: 39.1%/ 60.9% by population
- 0ther urban: 3o.4%
- accessible small towns: 8.7%
- remote small rural: 3.7%
- accessible rural: 11.6%
- remote rural: 6.5%
 SRUC vulnerability index (2011-12 data)
- unemployment, out-migration, decline in services

5. Small Towns: Distinctive Places:
Scale & Function
Region Whole settlement Town centre Block Plot
•Economic: business not just retail
•Community: civic
•Place: buildings & space

6. TCR RESEARCH: KEY FINDINGS
• Complex concept: multi-dimensional issues
• ‘Whole town’: rather than focus just on physical
• Town centre: scale distinctiveness: context
• Partnership: vision: strategy: action plan
• Partnership is not an outcome:
- need effective coordinated delivery
• Small/medium business: limited data
• Community ownership of assets
• Improving TCR project planning
• Improving: TC health checks
• Applying Theories of Change

7. SMALL TOWNS AS ECONOMIC
DRIVERS
 Local service centres: hinterland e.g. health care
 Jobs: independent businesses
 Infrastructure: assets /liabilities & investment
 Community capital: relationships & networks
 Broadband infrastructure: connected
 Enterprise: growth & start ups
 Visitor economy

8. •Demographic & social change
•Economic recovery: consumer confidence & demand
•Technology: internet & e-commerce
•Niche consumer markets
•Changing expectations & service quality
•Climate change: low carbon economy
•Knowledge based economy
- new skills & aptitudes
-lifestyle: social media
•UK ‘big four’: 76.4% grocery shopping:
- one stop: consumer choice?

9. •What kind of town?
•Vision: strategy: action plan
•Integrated whole town strategy: more than High Street
•Coordinated delivery: town & wider area
•Three sectors involved: ‘town team’: one voice
•Coordinator & facilitator: agitator
•Target small independent business: negative on retail & apathy
•Affordable housing
•More than just investment in public realm/buildings
•Stimulate confidence: compelling economic case

10. STRATEGY STRUCTURE &
COMPONENTS
Town Vision
Community Place Economy
Place Making:
Buildings & Sites Marketing & Branding
Environmental
Improvements: ‘Glue’ Visitor Destination
Improvements ‘Magnets’
Enterprise & Business
Development
Parking &
Accessibility

11. RETAIL BUSINESS INITIATIVES
 Retailers struggling: apathy & poor perception
 Limited data: e.g. Local Data Company
 Targeted ‘internal’ support:
- workshops/events & advisor support
- customer service & merchandising: ILA
- e-commerce
- social media: ‘communities of interest’
 Shared town centre marketing: involve PLCs
 Events based marketing: public realm
 Interest in: independent specialist consultation:
- Master Classes
- Shop Doctor: Dumfries
- 1-1 Retail Business Support: Scottish Borders
 Enterprise & Start Ups:
- ‘Retail Rocks’: Aberdeen/Torry
- Retail Incubators

12. • History & cultural heritage
• ‘Making’ facilities & commercial outlets
• Pilot incubator
• Active creative networks
• Community ownership & ‘community anchors’
• Cultural industries & arts crafts: visitor economy
• Events & festivals
• Visitor packages: ‘Hand Made Holidays’

13. •Distinctive & diverse: authentic ‘spirit of place’
•Mixed use: vertical & horizontal
•Town Centre Living: affordable ‘hidden homes’
•Townscape Heritage Initiative/HLF: end use enterprise
•Business Premises Renovation Allowance: tax incentives
•Shop fronts design: business development
•Enterprise hubs & incubators

14. SMALL TOWNS & LOCAL OWNERS
 Local owners & landlords: attitudes & upward rent reviews
 Part of the solution: ‘distressed property’
 Simplified leases: RICS leasing code
 Tax relief on capital spend
 Benefits to owners
- Income stream: rented property
- Safeguarding capital asset
- Reduced Council tax & business rates
- Occupier responsibilities

15. •Regeneration through re-branding: themes
•Internet: effective web sites
•Engage VistScotland & Creative Scotland
•Family friendly guide: directory
•Local food sourcing & marketing
•Orientation & navigation: interpretation

16. •SG: National Review of Town Centres 3/4: test new initiatives?
•Whole town/integrated strategies & action plans
•Proactive & locally driven: one voice
•Focus small independent business & local owners
•Improve project planning: short/medium term outcomes
•Town facilitator/agitator

17. www.douglaswheelerassociates.com