Town centre & retail services for local authorities
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Town centre & retail services for local authorities

The market leader in local economic strategy, town centre and retail developments. Lichfields has a long and proven track record of supporting key stakeholders to make sure their town centre's thrive.

As experts in preparing town centre strategies, masterplans and development feasibility appraisals we advise many local authorities. Our advice includes recommendations on how town centres should respond to seismic market changes and maximise the potential for new investment and growth.
 
  • regeneration/growth strategies
  • funding bids e.g. Future High Streets Fund, Towns Fund and Town Deal
  • investment prospectus
  • town centre uses need and capacity studies
  • masterplanning and visioning
  • town centre health checks
  • town Centre Management/BID projects
    

Realising potential

Town centres are facing unprecedented change due to major structural shifts in the wider retail, leisure and office markets. A process that has been rapidly accelerated by Covid-19.  To remain relevant they need to evolve. Fierce competition for funding and resources means that town centres must harness their place characteristics, strengths and opportunities to drive renewal, investment and change. Lichfields' approach is designed to:
 

  

Evidence base studies

Town centres, retail, leisure studies and policy reviews:
  • household surveys
  • economic forecasts
  • centre audits and health checks
  • market appraisal/need assessments
  • policy recommendations
  • impact and sequential site assessment
  • expert witness, appeals and examinations

CONTACT OUR RETAIL TEAM

Visioning and regeneration

Masterplanning and growth strategies:
  • baseline analysis
  • visitor and business surveys
  • stakeholder engagement/workshops
  • funding bids
  • delivery/action plans
     
CONTACT OUR RETAIL TEAM

Delivering success

 

Bishop Auckland

Lichfields prepared a Town Centre Masterplan and then provided specialist economics support to Durham County Council, helping to unlock more than £50 million of Government funding to transform Bishop Auckland Town Centre and establish it as a leading visitor destination.

Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames

Lichfields prepared town centre, retail and leisure strategies for the two neighbouring authorities, including advice on the iconic Battersea Power Station development.

Carmarthenshire County Council

We have provided town centre and retail advice to the Council for many years, including the latest strategy in 2023. We have also supported the Council in its determination of many retail and leisure applications.

Stockton Waterfront

Lichfields secured outline planning permission on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for the redevelopment of this key site to provide a new urban park, linking the High Street to the River Tees, as well as mixed-use development including new civic and health uses.

Bournemouth Christchurch Poole Council

Lichfields prepared a retail and leisure strategy for the new joint authority in 2021. We continue to provide ongoing advice to the Council on planning applications.

The Lichfields perspective

We are at the forefront of market analysis and we track government policy and legislation so we can give fresh insight to local authorities.

CONTACT OUR RETAIL TEAM

BLOG

The march of the discount retailers

Peter Wilks | 21 Jun 2023

BLOG

Retail and Leisure Post-Covid

Daniel Gregg | 24 Apr 2023

BLOG

The changing face of town centres

James Burman | 18 Apr 2023

INSIGHT

London's town centres

Retail mix of the future

INSIGHT

Moving on up?

Levelling-up town centres across Northern England
  

Key contacts

Peter Wilks

Senior Director
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Jonathan Wallace

Senior Director
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Katie Howarth

Planning Director
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Daniel Gregg

Associate Director
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Jenny Hill

Associate Director
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James Singer

Associate Director
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