Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum No Small Matter - 15/05/2007 Kirsten Francis Market Towns and Services Specialist Advisor One NorthEast Context Market Town Activities Investment Strategy Work in Berwick Market Town Distinctiveness Worst performing economy of any English region: Low productivity levels Not enough businesses Worklessness Deprivation Need for higher skills Decline of traditional manufacturing employment Demographics Limited connectivity Regional delivery of national policy Housing offer meets the needs of previous industrial structure as opposed to knowledge economy North East - Challenges Focus investment on the economic hearts of our region through City Region Development programmes Complement activity in the City Regions by Developing and Implementing a Strategic Approach to Market Towns One NorthEast Response 5,00 20,000 population Rural Economic Centre and Service Centre Currently 12 towns, Berwick Wooler Local Development Trusts Market Towns Strategy for Investment in Market Towns Master Planning and Visioning in Berwick Market Towns Distinctiveness Project Specific activities Strategy for Investment in Market Towns Influenced by South West Market and Costal Towns Programme Prepare plans for the future covering all aspects of community life in their towns and surrounding rural areas Develop their skills and organisational capacity to be effective partners Share good practice and learn from local, regional, national and international experience Secure funding and professional assistance through brokerage Market towns in the North East will be sustainable, enduring and active contributors to the development of regional prosperity by working in partnership with the city regions to achieve shared objectives Strategic Intent One NorthEast effectively deploys its skills, knowledge and resources to ensure flourishing, diverse local economy One NorthEast plays a leadership role in bringing the segments together to deploy skills, knowledge and resources. Role of the RDA Great Potential Mini Edinburgh History of Non Delivery Gillespies produced a Visioning Document Great Plans but capacity is a problem Capacity Study with Kevin Murray Associates Delivery mechanism various options Berwick Berwick Community Devt Trust Charitable status Community links Berwick Borough Council statutory role landowner Delivery Management Mechanism Steering Group Strategic lead ONE EH NCC NSP LSP GONE Delivery Plan LeadershipPhysical development (Phase 2) Work with Businesses SkillsITComs, branding and marketing Tourism Delivery Mechanism BACKGROUND New Economics Foundation Clone Town and Ghost Town Publications Culture North East Report An examination of the diversity and distinctiveness of the retail environment in the North East of England Culture North East Sept 2005 One North East engage Miller Research to work on three pilot towns Alnwick, Barnard Castle, Guisborough Market Town Distinctiveness Literature Search Market Research Focus Groups Research What Investors are looking for Studies of Successful Market Towns Key Findings Report Survey of the Three Towns Produce an Agreed Action Plan for each Town Produce Best Practice Tool Kit Main Elements The Mix that Creates Distinctiveness Measuring Distinctiveness Mapping Distinctiveness Customer care Key Performance Indicators Plotting Distinctiveness Action Plans Place Making Physical Elements Place Management People Aspects How do we achieve this? Partnership approach essential Business engagement essential Scarcity of funding Currently exploring a range of options BIDS Academy Action Plans Capacity, Capacity, Capacity Thank You