Morning, Monday, 15th September 2025
Online
This conference will explore next steps and policy priorities for regenerating neighbourhoods and town centres across England.
Neighbourhood Boards, local collaboration and aligning regeneration with growth agendas
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess the implementation of funding under the Plan for Neighbourhoods, as well as priorities and next steps for the trailblazer neighbourhoods scheme announced in the Spending Review which will see 25 neighbourhoods receive up to £20m over the next decade. Sessions will examine the role of Neighbourhood Boards in developing proposals, approaches to the delivery and implementation of plans, and providing community benefits. We expect discussion on best practice examples from previous regeneration projects, alongside key considerations for aligning the delivery of plans with broader local growth agendas and supporting collaboration with local stakeholders.
Devolution, planning reform and implications for local growth delivery
The English Devolution White Paper will be discussed, assessing the impact of governmental reorganisation on the delivery of place-based services, as well as implications of proposed planning reform under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and NPPF on development and regeneration opportunities. The impact of Use Class E and zoning policy will also be considered.
With new guidance for Mayoral Strategic Authorities on developing Local Growth Plans, as well as the introduction of spatial planning and changes to planning committees, delegates will assess opportunities for securing capital investment and delivery at a local level, looking also at delivery of funding under a new Local Growth Fund.
Diversifying town centres, supporting high street viability and enhancing community access
Further sessions will assess the long-term viability of town centres and high streets. With the House of Lords Built Environment Committee’s High streets in towns and small cities inquiry highlighting the declining dominance of retail stores, delegates will consider approaches to diversifying town centres, including the role of leisure and catering industries, charity shops, and public services such as libraries and community centres.
Measures to support high street occupancy and community interests will be discussed, including initial reflections on the use of High Street Rental Auctions to release disused lots, and the potential scope of a Community Right to Buy mechanism. Delegates will also consider strategies for increasing footfall in high streets and town centres, as well as approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour, parking and public transport, including the effective implementation of the Bus Services Bill and the integration of green spaces into high streets.
Promoting culture, heritage and arts access in regeneration initiatives
We expect the discussion to also bring out latest thinking on strategies for supporting culture and heritage in towns and high streets. Delegates will consider the delivery of grants, including the funding announced as part of an Arts Everywhere Fund, and priorities for the independent review of Arts Council England. Attendees will explore strategies for achieving widened national provision of access to high-quality arts and culture, improved engagement with individuals across a range of age groups, and further supporting diversity, resilience and adaptability in neighbourhoods, town centres and high streets.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill implementation:
- introduction of spatial development strategies - impact on local growth plans, planning reform and housing delivery - addressing potential delays to local plans and large-scale projects
- resolving potential conflict between growth, climate objectives and local authority powers
- Plan for Neighbourhoods:
- allocation and use of the £1.5bn regeneration fund - role and priorities for Neighbourhood Boards - coordination with existing town centre strategy and Local Growth Plans
- approaches to maximising benefits and efficient delivery - improving green spaces, place-making and community pride in town centres and high streets
- supporting long-term viability of town centres:
- strategies for achieving adaptability in town centres and repurposing to meet need - collaboration with local government, business, community and key stakeholders
- best practice examples of regeneration programmes - integration of heritage, arts and community considerations into town centre development
- the effects of Use Class E on town centre diversification - balancing adaptability with concerns over uniformity of high street uses and out-of-town competition
- public services as anchors in high streets:
- assessing potential to relocate public services to town centres to boost footfall and service accessibility
- integration of services with retail, leisure and housing - developing active travel options
- safety, accessibility and improving the public realm:
- effective approaches to tackling antisocial behaviour - delivery of crime reduction measures and community engagement
- transport, parking and pedestrianisation - implementation of measures in the proposed in the Bus Services Bill
- cultural and heritage investment:
- the Arts Everywhere Fund and its role in high street regeneration - preserving local heritage and repurposing historic buildings
- enabling access to culture in regions across England - improving provisions for younger people and underserved communities
- local empowerment:
- community Right to Buy proposals - High Street Rental Auctions as a tool to bring empty properties back into use - lessons from early adopters and case studies
