Latest News

Dr Ilze Mertena, Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN), has been awarded a grant from the ECRN Seed Fund 2024 to lead an exciting new project that places independent high street businesses at the heart of the experience economy.

On 28 March 2025, a group of Institute of Place Management members convened an online closed-door discussion to explore the evolving landscape of devolution in England. Chaired by IPM Fellow Graham Galpin, the session brought together senior voices from across academia, regeneration, local government, civic society and consultancy to engage in a candid conversation on the futur ...

To mark World Health Day 2025, the Institute of Place Management is pleased to share this guest blog by Esther Worboys, IPM Fellow and experienced place practitioner, reflecting on how the places we live, work and shop in can directly shape our health and wellbeing. This year, the World Health Day theme is maternal and new-born health – an issue of global urgency and deep local ...

On Friday 4th April, the Institute of Place Management was delighted to host a delegation of 25 researchers from the Telemark Research Institute, Norway for a day of international knowledge exchange at Manchester Metropolitan University. The visit was jointly organised by Dr Nikos Ntounis SFIPM and Dr Regine Sønderland Saga of Telemark, with the aim of exploring deeper collabor ...

The Slovenian government have drawn upon a report published by Manchester Metropolitan researchers to inform amendments to Hospitality Act  The phenomenon of short-term rentals (STRs) of residential properties is an ongoing challenge for many cities globally. The development of STR platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia has led to the temporary or permanent con ...

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium, has launched the third year of Let’s Celebrate Towns, a nationwide initiative designed to highlight towns across the UK that are fostering local innovation, economic growth, and community resilience. This year, the judging panel includes Ian Harvey, Head of the Institute of Place Manag ...

As Connswater Shopping Centre in East Belfast closes its doors for the final, the Institute of Place Management is calling for new thinking about the future of retail spaces. Appearing on BBC Radio Ulster, IPM’s Professor Cathy Parker reflected on the broader implications of the closure, placing Connswater within a national trend affecting shopping centres across the UK. “We ju ...

At the Institute of Place Management, we are committed to leading the conversation about the future of high streets and town centres, particularly in the context of changing local government structures and the ongoing devolution agenda. We are therefore pleased to share this thought-provoking piece from Graham Galpin, a Fellow of the IPM, former High Streets Task Force Expert, ...

At the Institute of Place Management, we know that a place-first approach is key to successful economic growth. It is all about activating local assets, strengthening community relations, building pride in place and having a vision that has been collaboratively shaped with local people. By having this groundwork, places can boost investor confidence from both the public and pri ...

The Crime and Policing Bill 2025 is a comprehensive piece of legislation currently under consideration in the UK Parliament. Introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025, the bill aims to address various aspects of crime, policing, and public safety. The debate encompassed various aspects of the bill, including its potential impact on neighbourhood policing and measur ...