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3. Action to improve resilience of towns and district centres

Important new action research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies[1] (CLES), in partnership with Tameside MBC in Greater Manchester and Northumberland County Council, seeks to assess the existing resilience of district centres and towns within both areas.  Working with other stakeholders and businesses, the work will develop innovative solutions to the thorny problem of economic decline.

As revealed by the recent Portas Review of the high street for Government, many of our towns are facing an unprecedented set of challenges.  Across the country, the growth of out of town and internet shopping, coupled with a faltering global and national economy, has resulted in a reduction in high street spending and the sad sight of many empty and boarded up shops.  Furthermore, many towns can no longer rely on public sector activity and regeneration which buoyed up their economy.

Commenting on the research work, which builds on CLES’s wider work into economic and place resilience, Neil McInroy (CEO of CLES), said: ‘The breadth of urban and small town focus which Northumberland and Tameside bring to this work is exciting. They like us recognise that the future of our towns and district centres is of tremendous importance and findings ways to arrest their decline is a key task’.

Steve Stewart, Chief Executive of Northumberland County Council, said; ‘I welcome the opportunity to work with CLES on this exciting new project. The development of town centres in Northumberland is a central part of our efforts in re-balancing the local economy. We have major growth opportunities, such as our leading work on the offshore wind industry but also real risks to future resilience, such as the severe impacts of extreme weather events as demonstrated by the countywide floods in 2008. This project will help us to ensure our contribution to both growth and resilience is as effective as possible in the future.’

Cllr David Sweeton, Tameside’s Executive Member for Business & Community Development said “We’re delighted that CLES has invited Tameside to take part in this study. The Council is currently working with local partners to reshape support for Tameside’s businesses and this study will help us understand how the private, public, education and voluntary sectors can improve the way they work together to support Tameside’s economy and its towns at this difficult time.