Creating a ‘forward framework’ for Framlingham town centre Chris Wade, Director aka @man about towns Creating a ‘forward framework’ for Framlingham Undertaken by the People & Places Partnership with East Suffolk Council & in association with Framlingham Town Council & Framlingham Business Association
Relaunched national toolkit for revitalising town centres
https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/economic-growth/revitalising-town- centres-toolkit-councils Understanding town trends
Gathering Creating Turning evidence partnerships around towns • survey • engaging • planning • analysis • organising • delivery • influence Gathering & sharing evidence
Baseline survey • Stakeholder engagement • 12 key performance indicators (KPIs) • Town centre metrics • Business confidence (51/58%) • User’s (79 on-street & 120 on-line) • Digital development • Detailed & summary reports • East Suffolk comparisons
https://eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/business- support/resources/town-centre-support/ Town turnover Change in turnover last 12 months 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Increased Stayed the same Decreased National Framlingham An East Suffolk perspective
Changes in Business Turnover across East Suffolk 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Decreased (last 12 months) Decrease (next 12 months)
Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Framlingham Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk Average % Businesses’ likes
Businesses' likes
Potential local customers Physical appearance Potential tourist customers Prosperity of the town Cafes, pubs, restaurants Mix of retail offer Geographical location Market(s)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Framlingham National Understanding customers
Main Purpose of Visit Customer Loyalty
Other First visit
>once/ month Access services Fortnightly Comparison shopping Weekly Convenience shopping >once/wk. Work Daily 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 0% 20% 40% 60% Framlingham National Framlingham National Customers’ likes Customers' likes Independent shops Physical appearance Convenience Customer service Cleanliness Ease of walking Cafes/ restaurants Safety Markets 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Framlingham National An East Suffolk perspective Customers' Negative Perceptions (Services) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Pubs/ bars Cafes/ restaurants Access to services Leisure facilities Cultural activities/event Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Framlingham Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk Average COVID-19 & beyond https://people-places.net/a-safe-warm-welcome-back-to-town/ Understanding COVID-19 impacts 1a. How significant an impact do you think the COVID-19 crisis has had on such perceptions & priorities about using Framlingham town centre? 1b. Do we need to learn more about this? Creating partnerships Gathering Creating Turning evidence partnerships around towns • survey • engaging • planning • analysis • organising • delivery • influence From evidence to engagement Building a ‘town team’ ➢ Raise awareness of survey ➢ Organise any volunteers ➢ Publish findings ➢ Arrange stakeholder events ➢ Create working groups ➢ Develop projects to meet needs ➢ Produce action plan ➢ Establish team/partnership ‘how’ to get organised & deliver: folk, form, finances & forward framework Proposed partnership themes Communication & coordination Planning, Events, parking & marketing & travel digital Co-ordination & communication link • small & hands-on in supporting role • coordinating across organisations, working groups & projects • coordinating fund raising & finances Co-ordination & • communicating progress to communication partners, stakeholders & community • comprising district, town council & business association • monthly, virtual catch-ups 2. What are your thoughts on this coordinating group’s composition? Turning around towns Gathering Creating Turning evidence partnerships around towns • survey • engaging • planning • analysis • organising • delivery • influence From understanding to action: Southwold’s Forward Framework Reviewing Framlingham’s town centre checklist https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/economic-growth/revitalising-town- centres-toolkit-councils/town-centre-checklist-self Co-ordination & communication link • small & hands-on in supporting role • coordinating across organisations, working groups & projects • coordinating fund raising & finances Co-ordination & • communicating progress to communication partners, stakeholders & community • comprising district, town council & business association • monthly, virtual catch-ups 2. What are your thoughts on this coordinating group’s composition? https://people-places.net/revitalising-framlingham-town-centre/ Coordinated across East Suffolk https://eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/town-centre-support/ Theme 1: Planning, parking & travel Understanding footfall & flow An East Suffolk comparison 250 200 150 100 50 0 Busy day Quiet day Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Framlingham Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk average A place to park Framlingham % Unoccupied Parking Spaces Car park spaces (quiet) Car park spaces (busy) On street spaces (quiet) On street spaces (busy) Total parking spaces (quiet) Total parking spaces (busy) 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% National Framlingham Parking comparisons 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Vacant spaces (busy day) Vacant spaces (quiet day) Aldeburgh % Beccles % Bungay % Framlingham % Halesworth % Leiston % Saxmundham % Southwold % Wickham Market % Woodbridge % East Suffolk average % An East Suffolk perspective Businesses' Positive Perceptions (Travel) 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Road links Traffic Public transport Car parking Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Fram. Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk Averages An East Suffolk perspective Negative Perceptions (Travel & Access) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Road links Traffic Public transport Car parking Ease of walking Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Framlingham Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk Small Town Average % Getting into & around town • devising, managing & delivering action plan for this theme • commissioning further research Planning, • over-seeing project delivery parking & • comprising county, district, town travel council, Neighbourhood Plan group & special interest groups • updating coordinating group • quarterly meetings 3. What are your thoughts on the role & representation for this theme? Theme 2: Events, marketing & digital Changing experience How has the experience of town centre changed? Not appropriate/don't know Worsened Stayed the same Changed -good & bad Improved 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Online On-street Customer perceptions Developing digital (customers) Framlingham customers' priorities (on-street) Town centre Wi-Fi coverage Digital phone network coverage Regular updatesfrom businesses ‘Click & collect’ or browsing Insights through social media Web sites about town/businesses 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1 (low priority) 2 3 4 5 (high priority) Taking the town on-line Talk of the Towns East Suffolk Feeling promotional: working group • devising, managing & delivering action plan to boost appeal • over-seeing delivery of branding, Events, promotion, events & digital marketing & • comprising Business Association, digital district council (incl. Smart Towns) plus special interests such as Sausage Festival • updating coordinating group • quarterly meetings 4. Any thoughts on role & representation? Creating a ‘Forward Framework’ https://people-places.net/creating-a-forward-framework-for- town-centre-revitalisation/ 5. How would your organisation like Next steps forto Framlingham be involved in taking these next steps? 1. Feedback on the issues & potential ways of working 2. Representatives of Town Council & Business Association getting together to talk in more detail 3. Agreeing on way to involve wider stakeholders in theme- based groups 4. Drafting an action plan of priorities & responsibilities 5. Finalising a ‘Forward Framework’ that covers ‘how’ work can be delivered. 6. Drawing-down East Suffolk Town Initiative support for ‘quick wins’. 7. Engaging with ‘Smart Towns’ opportunities https://people-places.net/revitalising-beccles-town-centre/ Creating Framlingham’s Let’s talk! ‘Forward Framework’ Forward Framework • key stakeholders • getting organised • action planning • delivery & funds Help & guidance