AMT Public

The Government’s ‘Big Society’ vision can capture the energy and expertise of volunteers in England’s 1600 small towns, home to 11 million people, according to the Chairman of a new policy forum, Small Towns for Tomorrow.

The forum, which will devise and promote new ideas for the future vitality and viability of small towns, was launched at The British Academy on Thursday 8 July. Small Towns for Tomorrow is independent of, but supported by, Action for Market Towns.

Small towns already doing Big Society

Ray Pahl, Professor Emeritus at the University of Kent and a Board Member of Action for Market Towns, who is Chairman of the new forum said:

“The notion of the Big Society encompasses many exciting and innovative ideas, but many of our towns have been seedbeds for some of these new ideas over the past decade.

“In towns throughout the country, the commitment and experience of volunteers, businesses and community organisations already helps to shape local life for the better. Working together, they have developed a type of community-led planning which helps people to have more control of decisions affecting their towns.

“We need to develop and extend this community-led planning. But let’s not re-invent the wheel – learning from experience comes cheap and if the Government harnesses this practical and research expertise it can be a cost-effective way of turning Big Society ideas into practice.”

The forgotten fifth

Small Towns for Tomorrow was opened by Professor Sir Peter Hall, Professor of Planning and Regeneration at University College, London. It will bring together leading academics, national organisations, businesses, public sector agencies, and practitioners to focus on policy towards towns of between 3,000 and 40,000 in population, where one-fifth of the population lives – Professor Pahl has called them ‘the forgotten fifth’.

One of the problems in devising policy is that towns larger than 10,000 are classified by Government as ‘urban’, which means that there is insufficient specific research on small towns, increasing the likelihood of their distinctive needs being overlooked.  Small Towns for Tomorrow will develop links with the Rural Evidence Research Centre at Birkbeck, University of London, led by Professor John Shepherd.

Challenges faced by small towns include:

• where to put more housing
• where to invest in rural jobs and transport
• how to reduce car use
• how to organise health and other services

- and all with reduced resources from Government and the need to meet climate change targets.

Professor Pahl said: “Small Towns for Tomorrow is not a call for more money – we recognise the constraints on Government resources. Rather, it is a call for innovative ways of engaging people at a local level in the governance of their towns and for improved policy-making at Government level.”

Speakers and presentations

Principal speakers at the launch at the British Academy on Thursday 8 July were:

Professor Sir Peter Hall (Professor of Planning and Regeneration, UCL): Opening address and closing roundup.
Download Sir Peter Hall’s presentation:

• A New Geography of England – first half (Powerpoint presentation)
• A New Geography of England – second half (Powerpoint presentation)

Danny Friedman (Director, Head of Housing, ecotec): The growth of small towns and impacts of this on housing and planning (pdf)

Dr Peter Damesick (Head of UK Research, cbre): The economy of small towns, including opportunities and challenges for inward investment (pdf)

Professor Harold Goodwin (Professor of Responsible Tourism Management, Leeds Metropolitan University): Sustainability issues for small towns including reducing the carbon footprint (pdf)

Dr Bob Crichton (Managing Director, HOP Associates): Future drivers of change and potential outcomes for small towns (Powerpoint presentation)

Professor John Shepherd (Chair of Human Geography, Birkbeck): What we currently know about small towns, and what we need to know to address future need (Powerpoint presentation)

Chris Wade (Chief Executive of Action for Market Towns): Market Towns – the Next Ten Years – AMT’s discussion paper on the future of market towns

• Read a short summary of key facts relating to small towns