Retail: A Return to the Centre

Whether we like it or not as planners, retail land uses are increasingly the driving force behind many of our successful city centre, town centre, and urban strategies, often providing a funding mechanism through which wider regeneration and development aspirations have been able to be realised. This event seeks to turn the debate about retail in the context of city and town centre planning strategy on its head, moving away from discussion about decline, regulation and constraint, to a consideration of how well planned and designed retail strategies and environments make a positive contribution to our town and city centres, shaping and creating distinctive places and providing identity to the wider urban environs.

The event will focus on the challenge for centres to become more than centres of retail to diverse social hubs. It will focus on the different functions of retail centres and will explain that regardless of their scale, they face many similar challenges. The presentations will focus on 3 case studies: a small town, a medium sized town and a major city and will look at a series of issues thematically from different points of view.

Perspectives from a Small Town: Rawtenstall Stuart Sugarman, Director of Business, Rossendale Borough Council

Perspectives from a Medium Sized Town: Stockport George Perrin, Development Manager, Stockport Council

Perspectives from a Big City: Liverpool Bill Addy, Chief Executive, Liverpool BID Company

The Designer's Perspective Tom Hewitt, Retail Director, BDP

The Leisure Operator's Perspective John Sullivan, Partner, Dcinex

The Community Interest Company's Perspective Iona Horsburgh, Chair, Ropewalks Community Interest Company

The Planner's Perspective Richard Woodford, Partner, HOW Planning

Chairman: Peter Drummond, BDP

Book your place now

Please contact beverley.watson@rtpi.org.uk or Bev Watson, RTPI NW, 2nd Floor, Emerson House, Albert St, Eccles, Salford, M30 0TE

Programme

9.30am Registration & refreshments

10am Welcome and Introduction by the Chairman Peter Drummond, BDP

10.05am Perspectives from a Small Town: Rawtenstall Stuart Sugarman, Rossendale BC

10.40am Perspectives from a Medium Sized Town: Stockport George Perrin, Stockport Council

11.15am Coffee break

11.30am Perspectives from a Big City: Liverpool Bill Addy, Liverpool BID Company

12.05pm Questions and Answer Session led by the Chair

12.20pm Lunch

1.05pm The Designer's Perspective – how good design if promoting the value of centres Tom Hewitt, BDP

1.40pm The Leisure Operator's Perspective – how leisure operators are becoming an increasingly important part of our town centres and the opportunities this brings John Sullivan, Dcinex

2.15pm Tea break

2.30pm The Community Interest Company's Perspective – how local interests are promoting centres Iona Horsburgh, Ropewalks Community Interest Company

3.05pm The Planner's Perspective – how planners are managing the changing character of centres Richard Woodford, HOW Planning

3.40pm Question and Answer Session led by the Chair

4pm Overview and Close by the Chair

Booking your place

Please contact Bev Watson below, indicating payment method preferred.

• RTPI members – £95 +VAT (£114.00)
• Non-RTPI members – £100 +VAT (£120.00)
• Retired RTPI members – £47.50 +VAT (£57.00)
• Limited subsidised places are available for unwaged members and students on full time RTPI accredited courses – £30.00 +VAT (£36.00)

Cancellations must be received at least 7 days before the event or may be subject to a £20 cancellation fee. No refund will be given for non-attendance but substitutions are acceptable at any time.

Ring Bev Watson on 0161 604 7799

Email beverley.watson@rtpi.org.uk or post to: Bev Watson, RTPI NW Regional Co-ordinator, 2^nd Floor, Emerson House, Albert St, Eccles, Salford, M30 0TE