Supporting Historic High Streets: Part 3, The Visitor Economy

This seminar looked at the role of the visitor economy as a key part of the future historic High Street’s appeal. This included research on how footfall patterns reveal what type of town a place really is; innovative community strategies for revitalising town centres; using heritage assets to play to a place’s inherent strengths; developing a brand based on real identity for a stronger visitor economy and experience; using place-making strategies to change perceptions of town centre spaces; reusing empty shop to bring arts and culture to a town centre; why it is worth investing in historic shop fronts; what it takes to turn an historic place around; and, focusing economic development efforts amongst local businesses, district and town councils to support smaller towns. More events on this theme will be developed this year, and so do watch our Events page for news.

• Programme
• Understanding High Street Signature Types: Research Findings – Jonathan Burnett, Springboard Research
• The Role of Communities and Heritage Assets in Town Centres – Sophia de Sousa, The Glass House
  
• Derby Cathedral Quarter Partnership Scheme – Clive Fletcher, Historic England
  
• Learning from the findings of the HLF’s Townscape Heritage Initiative – Alan Reeve, Oxford Brookes University
  
• Place Branding – Finding your Personality – Natasha Grand, Institute for Identity
• Bringing Art and Culture to ailing High Streets – Dan Thompson, Empty Shops Network
  
• Places from Spaces, Chester – David McKenna, IBI Group
• Supporting existing independent retailers in small towns – Karen Roberts, Vale of White Horse District Council (not available)

This event was kindly sponsored by TrailTale

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