Rural Community Energy Fund
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is specifically targeted at helping rural communities (in England) access the money needed to carry out feasibility studies into renewable energy projects, and...
View ArticleNeighbourhood planning: new app; updated map
The neighbourhood planning movement continues to grow, writes Billy Roden of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)’s Decentralisation and Neighbourhood Planning Team, in this guest...
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Celebrating an Independent Christmas 2013
It’s time to plan some seasonal activities to boost footfall in your town and support your independent retailers, says Clare Rayner, The Retail Champion in this guest blog. Having learned from the 2012...
View ArticleResearch shows power of small businesses in local economies
New research, published in July from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), shows that 58 per cent more of the money spent by local authorities with small firms is re-spent in the local economy...
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Case Study of the Week: The Totally Locally Leek Sunday Supplement
This week we turn the spotlight on Leek – a town that, despite having plenty going for it as a prime tourist destination on the edge of the Peak District, had somehow lost its way. The Totally Locally...
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North Towns Alive Awards 2013: Commended projects
The following projects were commended in the North Zone Towns Alive Awards 2013: Establishing Community Management of The Forum (Northallerton) Limited Hambleton District Council worked with the local...
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Town Team Initiative workshop in Oxfordshire
When & Where: Tuesday 15 October, Wantage, Oxfordshire Our popular Town Team Initiative workshops are part of a countrywide roadshow which looks at the common challenges facing our town centres...
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Case Study of the Week: Lancing Sensory Garden
Our Case Study of the Week is the winner of the Environment and Culture category of the South Zone Towns Alive Awards. Lancing Sensory Garden has transformed Wenceling Garden, a rather sad and...
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South Towns Alive Awards 2013: Commended projects
The following projects were commended in the South Zone Towns Alive Awards 2013: The Crewkerne Centre Crewkerne Centre provides small, new and young businesses with the opportunity to grow and flourish...
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Case Study of the Week: Beccles Lido
Beccles Lido was nearly derelict when a community group decided to take it on and bring it back to life. Beccles Lido Limited ran a major fundraising programme and got the whole community behind the...
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East Towns Alive Awards 2013: Commended projects
The following projects were commended in the East Zone Towns Alive Awards 2013: Aldeburgh Independents’ Day Independents’ Day was a a day to celebrate Aldeburgh’s independent shops and businesses and...
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Case Study of the Week: Bloxwich Community Orchard
Bloxwich Community Orchard is an urban community orchard which brings local people together to help grow, maintain and distribute the harvest of apples, pears, cherries, plums and more within their...
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Next year’s Coastal Communities Fund to be worth £29m
Next year’s Coastal Communities Fund will be worth £29m, according to an announcement this week by the Treasury. The value of the fund for 2013/14 was £27.8m. The fund is designed to support economic...
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5 key principles of destination marketing that YOUR town can use
‘Has a friend ever told you about their trip and you’ve thought to yourself “rather you than me”?’ asks Hidden Britain’s Nicole New in this Guest Blog post. At Hidden Britain we work on local tourism...
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Case Study of the Week: Aberystwyth Market Hall
Aberystwyth’s 150-year-old market hall was, in 2011, in a good state of repair on the outside. But inside the building it was another story: fixtures and fittings were old and unattractive, footfall...
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Portas, Grimsey, and all that: beginners’ guide to town centre reviews
The recent rash of national town-centre reviews began first of all when the Westminster Government invited Mary Portas – self-styled ‘Queen of the High Streets’ – to prepare the Portas Review on the...
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Grimsey review published: 31 recommendations offer alternative future
A new review of high streets is published today, led by Bill Grimsey, the ex-boss of Iceland, Wickes and Focus. The Grimsey review offers an “alternative” future for the high street: “Many high streets...
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Bold ideas; time for action: AMT welcomes Grimsey review
Bill Grimsey doesn’t mince his words. We must accept that “there is already too much retail space in the UK and that bricks and mortar retailing can no longer be the anchor to create thriving high...
View ArticleSupermarket impact study – results due 6-7 November
As we reported earlier in the year, AMT and retail planning experts, England & Lyle, have been commissioned by the Co-operative Group to undertake independent research into the impact of new...
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Future High Streets Forum – an insider’s view
My well-founded scepticism of Government consultation exercises is on hold as I participate in the Future High Streets Forum, writes AMT’s chief executive, Chris Wade. Chaired jointly by Minister Mark...
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