High Streets Task Force to start - MyKnowledgeMap · Welcome to this interactive e-learn from the High Streets Task Force. This series of training programmes has been designed to

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High Streets Task Force

November 2020 v2.0

Restructuring your High Street

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Welcome to this interactive e-learn from the High Streets Task Force.

This series of training programmes has been designed to give you an awareness of the different frameworks and approaches to renewing your high street, now even more important as places move to recovery and transformation as a result of COVID-19.

This is an interactive e-learn: simply follow the prompts and click on the buttons to progress. The icons to the right will always be at the top of your screen.

Please click the green arrow in the bottom-right hand corner of your screen to start.

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2

3What does

restructuring

involve?

1Learning

objectives

4How can you

restructure

your high

street?

5Recap &

summary

Contents

What is

restructuring?

Contents

This training session consists of five key areas, designed to equip you with the knowledge and awareness of restructuring as a strategy for high street renewal.

To return to this page at any time throughout the session, simply press the icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen.

To start, please click the green arrow in the bottom right-hand corner.

You can also access content by selecting one of the chapters to the right.


1 Learning Objectives

As a result of completing this Restructuring your High Street training session, you will have achieved the following learning objectives:

To develop an awareness of Restructuring as an approach to high street renewal;1

Next




To develop an awareness of Restructuring as an approach to high street renewal;

To identify the key priorities of Restructuring;

1

2

Next






To review and apply the insights from high streets that have Restructured.

1

2

3


2

3What does

restructuring

involve?

1Learning

objectives

4How can you

restructure

your high

street?

5Recap &

summary

Contents

What is

restructuring?

Contents

You have now completed Section 1.

To begin Section 2, please click the green arrow in the bottom right-hand corner.

You can also revisit content from Section 1 by selecting it from the Contents on the right.


2 What is ‘restructuring’?

First – let’s start by understanding what ‘restructuring’ means, and how it can be applied to high streets and local town centres. Select each heading to find out more.

So what does

‘restructuring’ mean?



So what does

‘restructuring’ mean?Why restructure?

Putting the necessary economic

incentives and institutional

arrangements in place to secure the

appropriate planning and governance

of the high street, so that it is treated

as a complex entity that involves more

than just shopping.




So what does

‘restructuring’ mean?Why restructure?

Putting the necessary economic


arrangements in place to secure the

appropriate planning and governance

of the high street, so that it is treated

as a complex entity that involves more

than just shopping.

High streets must be understood as

complex and contested places,

experiencing fundamental change, which

requires new understanding and

approaches, based on a unified vision,

partnership working and leadership.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the rate and

scale of this change, and as such this

understanding is now more important than

ever.



2

3What does

restructuring

involve?

1Learning

objectives

4How can you

restructure

your high

street?

5Recap &

summary

Contents

What is

restructuring?

Contents



You can also revisit content from previous sections by selecting them from the Contents on the right.


1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

3 What does restructuring involve?

5

Networks &

Partnerships

Town centres are complex and contested places and so they need leadership, vision and partnership management.

A strong working relationship based on trust needs to be developed between stakeholders from all sectors, and new structures and systems need to be introduced in many places.

Likewise thought needs to be given to how change is impacting on the physical structure and requirements of a centre.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in Restructuring. Select each heading to find out more.


3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships

1

Place

Management

1 Place Management

• Having capacity or a structure in place to undertake place management is a proven

and effective way of improving a town’s vitality and viability.

• Any organisation, either formal or informal, takes time to establish itself but an

informal place management partnership between the local authority and retailers

can be formed quickly.

• The COVID-19 pandemic, and the requirements this will place on towns to adapt,

necessitates a need for collaboration and partnership working.

Should you implement changes in place management?

Do you need to establish new structures?



1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships







1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships

2 Accessibility

• Centres are accessible when they can be reached by a variety of transport modes,

such as walking, bike, car and bus.

• Convenience is a key driver to vitality, so considering the accessibility of your high

street or town centre is important.

• COVID-19 will have accessibility implications for your town, such as

accommodating an increase in active transport (walking/cycling), and personal

vehicle use.

How is change impacting on the physical structure and requirements of your

centre?



1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships







2

Accessibility

1

Place

Management

3

Walking

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships

3 Walking

• Factors to bear in mind when considering walkability are: pedestrianisation/

pedestrian flow, cross-shopping, linked trips, quality of pavements and inclusivity to

those with restricted mobility.

• The requirement for social-distancing will impact walkability, therefore careful

consideration will need to be given to interventions that are put in place to facilitate

this.

• Easily and safely walking between amenities and shops enhances the vitality and

viability of a centre.

How walkable is your centre?



1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships







3

Walking

2

Accessibility

1

Place

Management

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships

4 Recreational Space

• Recreational areas, public space and open spaces offer areas to relax or spend

time in and therefore, satisfy social needs of a centre’s visitors.

• This is an offering outside of the typical products and services that high streets

typically offer.

• With social-distancing requirements placing a squeeze on public space, open

spaces are now a more important asset than ever before.

To what extent does your high street produce quality recreational space?



1

Place

Management

3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

5

Networks &

Partnerships







3

Walking

2

Accessibility

4

Recreational

Space

1

Place

Management

5

Networks &

Partnerships

5 Networks & Partnerships

• Networking, partnerships and community leadership all contribute to an

effective and well organised High Street.

• As we move through recovery and transformation from COVID-19,

partnership working will be vital for ensuring a co-ordinated approach.

• Strong leadership, collaboration and vision are fundamental to driving

sustainable improvement in High Streets.

How well are stakeholders engaged in decision making and action?

Do you have a vision for your high street?



3 What does restructuring involve? Summary

Town centre management

Shopping centre management

Place management

BIDs

Networking

Partnerships

Community leadership

Stakeholder power

Engagement

Convenience

Accessibility

Accommodating trends as a result of COVID-19 (e.g. active transport)

Recreational areas

Public space

Open space

Walkability

Pedestrianisation/ flow

Managing social-distancing/queueing

Cross-shopping

Linked trips

Connectivity

1 Place

Management

5 Networks &

Partnerships

2 Accessibility 4 Recreational

Space

3 Walking


2

3What does

restructuring

involve?

1Learning

objectives

4How can you

restructure

your high

street?

5Recap &

summary

Contents

What is

restructuring?

Contents





1. Restructuring your High Street: Insights and lessons from practice

4 How can you restructure your high street?

So how can you begin to restructure your high street?

Click the heading above to learn about the key elements of how to restructure, as well as experiences of town centres that have already been through the process.



1.

Models of

Partnership

Working

2.

Nature of

Partnership

Working

3.

Roles &

Responsibilities

4.

Partners

Involved



1.

Models of

Partnership Working

2.

Nature of

Partnership Working

3.

Roles &

Responsibilities

4.

Partners

Involved

Different governance planning and governance models exist. Evidence has shown that an inclusive partnership

between retailers and the civic sector will allow more breadth and diversity of change agents.




1.

Models of

Partnership Working

2.

Nature of

Partnership Working

3.

Roles &

Responsibilities

4.

Partners

Involved

By being action-oriented, establishing clear role definitions and responsibilities, and creating strong leadership

partnerships, high streets can reduce the common difficulties faced by joint-working between new groups.




1.

Models of

Partnership Working

2.

Nature of

Partnership Working

3.

Roles &

Responsibilities

4.

Partners

Involved

Mediating roles within a new governance framework is necessary as strategic partners play a key role in

coordinating inputs. Interaction between partners ensures that contributions are not made on a purely personal

basis.




1.

Models of

Partnership Working

2.

Nature of

Partnership Working

3.

Roles &

Responsibilities

4.

Partners

Involved

It is key to specify a range of partners, from: national government, local planners, other council actors and the

private sector. The diverse network of actors identifies scenarios and themes based not only on retail, but also

living and working.





Summary

Models of Partnership Working

• An inclusive partnership between retailers and the civic sector creates more breadth of change agents

Nature of Partnership Working

• Being action-oriented and by breaking down barriers can reduce the common difficulties of projects

Roles & Responsibilities

• Interaction with strategic partners ensures that input is not made on a purely personal basis

Planning & Governance

• A diverse network of actors allows a diverse range of scenarios and themes to be identified



2. High Street UK 2020: Case Studies from partner towns

Click on Wrexham on the map to find out more on the town’s restructuring efforts. Wrexham

St George


We will now look at two towns that participated in a restructuring

exercise as part of the High Streets UK 2020 project.


Wrexham, North Wales


4.



Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales, and was formerly

dominated by the coal industry – with collieries employing more

than 10,000 people.

The last coal pit

closed in the

1980s, and the

town saw little to

no investment

throughout the

1970s and 1980s.

Wales as a whole also lags behind the

wider U.K. economy, with high

unemployment and poverty rates.

More recently, Wrexham was struggling

to attract younger demographics into the

town due to a lack of free activities or

targeted attractions.

Stakeholder

engagement was

also ineffective, with

a more open forum

only resulting in a

lack of decision-

making and action

within the town.

What was going wrong?


Wrexham County Borough Council used the 25 priorities for local action to support the

development of a masterplan, leading to the new local development plan.

A Wrexham Town Centre action plan has since been developed by the Wrexham

Town Centre Partnership Steering Group in response to the HSUK2020 study.



4.



How did Wrexham try to restructure?

Partners comprised of national government, local planners, other council

actors and the private sector.

The vision developed by this network of diverse actors was based not only on

shopping but also on visiting, living, working, attractiveness, distinctiveness and

accessibility.




4.



What happened?

The Town Centre Action Plan

allowed a single strategy, clearly

setting out the Council’s priorities.

This allowed one collective vision

for a vibrant, safe, accessible and

prosperous place for people to live,

work and visit.

This was complemented through a

greater diversity of town centre

uses to target key demographics

who were underserved in North

Wales.

The restructure put retail at the

heart of the town in order to

maintain the viability of the town in

the longer term.



Wrexham

St George


Click on St George on the map to find out more on the town’s restructuring efforts.

We will now look at two towns that participated in a restructuring

exercise as part of the High Streets UK 2020 project.




1.


St George, Bristol

What was going wrong?

There was a feeling that the area

was deserted, littered and disjointed.Empty shops and a

poor retail diversity

was hampering the

image of the

neighbourhood.

Bank closures in

the town centre

also had a negative

impact on retail.

St George East and St

George West scored

second worst out of 14

neighbourhood

partnerships in terms

of neighbourhood

satisfaction in the

Bristol Quality of Life

Survey 2014.

Road traffic also

dominated – St

George was classed

as one of Britain's

most dangerous

roads in 2018.

St George

had no real

sense of

community

and a lack of

identity.

St George is one of 46 other retail centres across areas in

Bristol, and was facing a number of challenges.


Due to the strong community feeling and willingness from the locals to be part of

making changes, it was recommended that a local partnership would establish a

shared vision for the centre.

Recently a new community-led organisation, the St George Community Network,

has built upon the progress made by the Partnership Plan – focusing on local

priorities to combat the reductions in central government funding.



1.


How did St George try to restructure?

St George, Bristol

Formation of a new Neighbourhood Partnership Plan captured local people’s

aspirations to restructure and build links with other partnerships.




1.


The local partnership

working in St George

continues to show great

resilience and

adaptation towards the

challenges that can

hamper effective local

governance and

planning of the area

and its high street.

Through the St George

Community Network, a

pocket park was

created on a prominent

site on Church Road

which brought derelict

land back into public

use, providing some

much needed seating

into the area.

Also, a community-led

summer event,

Redfest, drew

thousands of people to

Church Road and

strengthened its

connection to the

adjacent green space

of St George Park.

What happened?

St George, Bristol


2

3What does

restructuring

involve?

1Learning

objectives

4How can you

restructure

your high

street?

5Recap &

summary

Contents

What is

restructuring?

Contents





5 Recap & summary

This section contains a summary of all the key learning points on Restructuring your High Street.

First, let’s recap some of the key takeaways from this session.


5 Recap & summary



Q1 What are the five priorities for Restructuring?

Research, Reposition, Rebrand, Reinvent and Restructure

Place Management, Accessibility, Walking, Recreational Space, Networks and Partnerships with Council

Place Management, Accessibility, Transport, Recreational Space and Local Networks

a

b

c


5 Recap & summary

Q1 What are the five priorities for Restructuring?

Research, Reposition, Rebrand, Reinvent and Restructure

Place Management, Accessibility, Walking, Recreational Space, Networks and Partnerships with Council

Place Management, Accessibility, Transport, Recreational Space and Local Networks

a

b

c

The 5 key priorities for Restructuring are below. Whilst they are

considered priorities for restructuring there are other factors that a

High Street should also consider when Restructuring.

Click here to revisit the

5 Priorities summary


What does restructuring involve?5 Recap & summary

Town centre management

Shopping centre management

Place management

BIDs

Networking

Partnerships

Community leadership

Stakeholder power

Engagement

Convenience

Accessibility

Accommodating trends as a result of COVID-19 (e.g. active transport)

Recreational areas

Public space

Open space

Walkability

Pedestrianisation/ flow

Managing social-distancing/queueing

Cross-shopping

Linked trips

Connectivity

1 Place

Management

5 Networks &

Partnerships

2 Accessibility 4 Recreational

Space

3 Walking


5 Recap & summary



Q2 Different governance planning and governance models exist. Why should you consider a partnership

between retailers and the civic sector?

This will allow retailers to have more decision making power

To keep everyone informed

To allow more breadth and diversity of change agents

a

b

c


5 Recap & summary

Q2

This will allow retailers to have more decision making power

To keep everyone informed

To allow more breadth and diversity of change agents

a

b

c

A partnership between retailers and the civic sector will encourage

breadth and diversity across both change agents and ideas.

However, it is key to have appropriate governance in place.

Click here to revisit the

insights and lessons from

practice summary

Different governance planning and governance models exist. Why should you consider a partnership

between retailers and the civic sector?



Summary


• An inclusive partnership between retailers and the civic sector creates more breadth of change agents

Nature of Partnership Working

• Being action-oriented and by breaking down barriers can reduce the common difficulties of projects

Roles & Responsibilities

• Interaction with strategic partners ensures that input is not made on a purely personal basis


• A diverse network of actors allows a diverse range of scenarios and themes to be identified

How can you restructure your high street?5 Recap & summary


5 Recap & summary



To review and apply the insights from high streets that have Restructured.

1

2

3

What were the learning objectives for this Restructuring your High Street training session?


5 Recap & summary

Restructuring your High Street is one of the four key strategies for high street renewal identified by the High Streets Task Force. Here’s a recap of what we’ve covered today and the significance of Restructuring.


5 Recap & summary


Restructuring involves putting

the necessary economic


arrangements in place. This

is crucial as we move to

recovery and transformation

from COVID-19.

This will ensure the

appropriate planning and

governance of your high

street is achieved.


5 Recap & summary








from COVID-19.




street is achieved.

Restructuring means new relations beyond formal government, resulting in evolving new forms of collaborative governance.


5 Recap & summary








from COVID-19.




street is achieved.

Restructuring means new relations beyond formal government, resulting in evolving new forms of collaborative governance.

Consider the 5 priorities for restructuring:

1. Place Management

2. Accessibility

3. Walking

4. Recreational Space

5. Networks and Partnerships with Council





arrangements in place




street is achieved

Restructuring means new relations beyond formal government, resulting in evolving new forms of collaborative governance

Consider the 5 priorities for restructuring:

1. Place Management

2. Accessibility

3. Walking

4. Recreational Space

5. Networks and Partnerships with Council

5 Recap & summary


Restructuring is only one of

strategic framework for high streets. To find out more about the other Rs, please visit our website or get in touch with us to see how we can help.

Reinventing Restructuring

Repositioning Rebranding

The

4Rsof renewal


Course complete

Thank you for taking part in this Restructuring your High Street training

session.

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your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.

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High Streets Task Force to start - MyKnowledgeMap · Welcome to this interactive e-learn from the High Streets Task Force. This series of training programmes has been designed to