Case studies

Stockton town centre is modern, successful and vibrant with impressive public spaces on a High Street with a rich heritage. Its riverside should be a focal point with accessible, flexible space for the Borough’s world-class events programme all year round. Building on the asset of the River Tees, Stockton Waterfront will provide a high quality setting for a modern town centre with a distinct sense of place that also safeguards sustainable traditional retail.

Stevenage Town Centre is being transformed. A £1bn regeneration programme, being led by the council, is delivering a mixed-use town centre reflecting the aspirations of its people and businesses and addressing the need for change as town centres continue to evolve. The legacy of Stevenage as the UK’s first New Town and its pioneering spirit is reflected within the programme.

Rubicon Regeneration were commissioned as part of the LGA’s Economic Growth Advisers programme to support Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to improve outcomes for 18-25s in Southend-on-Sea.

South Staffordshire District Council have developed a ten-point plan for their local economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritising those areas where the council can make a real impact over both the short and long-term, and putting strong relationships with businesses and partners as the foundation.

South Cambridgeshire District Council formed the Business Support and Development team in summer 2020 to provide essential services and impact economic growth across the district. One of their first tasks was to assist in the distribution of government grants throughout the pandemic. The focus progressed to how the council could further help businesses as we emerged from the pandemic, which led to the development and launch of the Visit South Cambs website.

Community Employment Hubs have been set up in various locations across Somerset West and Taunton (SWT). The hubs offer flexible support to people who want to overcome personal barriers to their skills development and employment prospects. The holistic approach and ethos of the hubs contribute towards the confidence, self-esteem, social interaction, health and wellbeing of attendees. The hub model has proved to be a success and the aims are to develop and expand the provision to ten hubs across the district delivering employment, apprenticeships, skills development as well as training support and information by mid-2022.

Like many local authorities across the country, one of the challenges facing Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council as part of its COVID-19 recovery planning, was adapting and advancing its existing commitment to developing its towns and local centres.

A pilot podcast was created to support the voluntary and business sectors in the Sevenoaks District in their response to and recovery from Covid-19.

‘Our Future, Our Bootle’ is Sefton Council’s Area Action Plan (AAP) for Bootle which will set out a clear vision for the town for the next two decades and beyond. The plan will act as a catalyst for further investment in the town, creating more opportunities for local people and businesses. It will also help to secure the homes that people need and want, help address the challenge of climate change, provide good quality open spaces and facilities, seek local environmental improvements as well as securing job opportunities.

The successful post-COVID 19 reopening of town and city centres requires the creative reimagining and promotion of safe and welcoming public spaces. Royal Leamington Spa is an example of a town taking such an approach, through a creative collaboration between Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council, Royal Leamington Spa Town Council and BID Leamington