A guest blog from the Caravanserai team Traditional Caravanserais were vital, busy compounds along the Silk Road, places with some greenery, water and shelter, to take a break from traveling. Once rested, people of different backgrounds, nationalities and races would exchange goods and stories. They were cities in miniature, bustling with trade & activity, vibrant […]
Beyond the butcher and the baker: local government gets re-imagining
March 5, 2012 by
If you thought we were all deserting local shops, think again. Apparently nearly four-fifths of us believe our high streets depend on local butchers and bakers, according to the Local Government Association. A new poll shows just how deep this care for local retailers lies, especially among older people: Nearly eight in 10 local people […]
An Association of Agitators: the next step for our high streets?
February 24, 2012 by
Imagining Alternative High Street Futures from Architecture + Design Scotland on Vimeo. Where can you find an Association of Town Agitators, a ‘framework for mess’ and a high street Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Answer: Glasgow, where around 40 people gathered to ‘imagine alternative high street futures’ on Tuesday. We blogged some thoughts here earlier this […]
How many of our natural cathedrals will survive austerity?
February 16, 2012 by
In recent weeks we’ve been visiting parks, gardens and open spaces in England and Wales as part of a project with Groundwork UK, hearing inspiring stories of change but alsoseeing people battling against the odds to preserve spaces and activities that funders no longer see as a priority. We’re also reviewing the huge volume […]
Ten questions every town team should ask
February 2, 2012 by
The recent Portas Review of the high street set out 28 recommendations to revitalise our town centres, number one of which was to set up ‘town teams’ to bring together different stakeholders into a single management team. While Mary Portas described this as ‘getting our town centres running like businesses’, she meant something much bigger […]
Does your town still have a purpose?
January 30, 2012 by
In this guest post, Bob Gibson argues that we need to examine town’s evolution and purpose to prepare effectively for the future. In recent weeks there has been much debate and heartache about the difficulties hitting many town centres. The Portas Review, Action for Market Towns, a Parliamentary debate (alas attended by only about […]
A warm welcome for the Portas Review
December 13, 2011 by
The producers of the ‘21st Century Agora’ white paper warmly welcome the Mary Portas review of the high street as a real opportunity to inject new thinking into our struggling town centres and create places where people can thrive and flourish. Our input into the review was described by Mary Portas as ‘inspirational and invaluable’ […]
Let’s hear it for the Queen of Shops
December 12, 2011 by
On a sleety December day in Wakefield or Wigan, Weston-super-Mare or Wisbech, a walk down the high street amid hard-up Christmas shoppers is a long way from most people’s idea of a good time. Today Mary Portas, TV’s Queen of Shops and the retail guru appointed by David Cameron to revive our high streets, is […]