State of the Art INDEX
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State of the art INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Markets: State of the art at EU level INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Markets: State of the art at EU level Introduction The Markets For centuries, markets have been an important part of the city retail. They represent not only the place where people buy food and non food products but also the place where the heart of the city could be found. When retail chains where not yet developed, small retailers were the only source of products for the city. Craft shops gathered in specific areas of the cities (today’s high streets) but traders and farmers met in a specific places, the “markets”. This phenomenon could be found all over Europe in small cites as well as capital cities, the only difference being the number of stalls, the variety of products and the opening days. Because of the footfall they generated, markets had a very important impact on their surroundings, enhancing the opening of retail shops, artisans and other businesses. Even if this was more or less homogeneous in all countries and cities, the industrialization first and the retail evolution afterwards, produced a divergent path for the markets in every country and region. Introduction The Markets today Although markets generate great footfall and can bring “life” to a neighbourhood, their economic and social impact has often been undervalued. Nowadays, the situation of the markets in each city varies considerably. Several factors explain these differences: retail competition, local laws, retail association relevance and roles, market governance models, logistics models, etc. The different evolution of the markets implies that different management approaches, typologies and/or degree of competitiveness can be found. But even within this heterogeneity, markets are still at the heart of the city life and play, an important role for the retail offer, tourism attraction as well as social and economic cohesion and development of their local neighbourhoods. Local governments have re-discovered or are rediscorvering the centrality of markets in their city and their relevance to urban development, their role in jobs creation and entrepreneurship and their importance for the social development of the neighbourhoods. Markets model The market’s ecosystem As stated formerly, markets have a broad impact on the city. Several areas of the city GDP generation are impacted such as tourism, logistics, real estate or retail development At the same time, most of the quality of life indicators are also influenced, such as social development and integration, sustainability, availability of km0 products, mobility and employment. For this reason, a wide range of stakeholders can be identified: local and regional authorities, business, traders and retail associations, wholesale distributors, local producers, different kind of investors and, of course, the citizens of the city, especially those in the market’s neighbourhood. The attached graph represents in a very synthetic way the whole markets model and ecosystem. Project goals and overview Urbact markets is a project that aims to explore the role of city retail markets as key drivers for social, environmental and economic change in our neighbourhoods. Markets generate footfall, economic activity, increase in trade in surrounding areas, incentivize tourism and reinforce local cohesion. The project focuses on sharing best practice for creating and managing both street and covered market, either food or specialist markets. Markets will be treated as part of the urban trade and retail policy, but with an integrated approach: urban planning, environment, employment and tourism policy areas will also be part of our action plans. The project will propose specific measures to adapt markets to the challenges of the XXIst century, to contribute to answering the needs of neighbours, consumer trends and demands, and low-carbon neighbourhoods. INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Markets: State of the art at EU level 2.1. EU Background 2.2. Markets and Town Centre Regeneration 2.3. Low carbon economy & markets 2.4. Employment and entrepreneurship in the markets INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Markets: State of the art at EU level 2.1. EU Background 2.2. Markets and Town Centre Regeneration 2.3. Low carbon economy & markets 2.4. Employment and entrepreneurship in the markets EU Background At European level, the debate on markets has started only recently. Markets don’t have their own space at EU level, being mixed with retail, agriculture, or other administrative bodies. This is not surprising since many countries, regions and local governments show a similar lack of specific body or department devoted to markets. However, as the importance given to the markets increases, some projects have already been carried out at EU level such as: MedEmporion http://www.medemporion.eu/index.php/contents/home http://w110.bcn.cat/Mercats/Continguts/Documents/Fitxers/angl %C3%A8s%20complert.pdf Central Markets http://www.central2013.eu/ Other relevant documents from the EU related to markets are: • Retail market monitoring report “Towards more efficient and fairer retail services in the internal market for 2020”: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/retail/docs/ monitoring_report_en.pdf • The single market act: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/smact/index_en.htm EU Background At national, regional and local level, markets strategy is usually included in a more or less explicit way within the retail, promotion and commerce strategies, although some relevant policies can also be found among the agricultural and rural legislations. In the last 2-3 years however, some countries or specific regions have started specific studies about markets, their impact and/or their strategic and economic relevance. The most relevant ones are: • “Markets 21: A Policy & Research Review of UK Retail and Wholesale Markets in the 21st Century”, Retail Markets Alliance, November 2009 • “London Retail Street Markets Study”, Regeneris Consulting, October2010 • “I mercati nella Circoscrizione 7”, Circoscrizione 7, Conservatoria delle Cucine Mediterranee, Città di Torino, 2010. • “L'integrazione in piazza. Commercianti stranieri e clientela multietnica nei mercati urbani”, FIERI and Camera di Commercio di Torino, 2010. • “"Rapport d'orientation pour la dynamisation et le développement des marchés de plein-vent et des marchés couverts"” - Étude réalisée par le Bureau d’études CMF (Commerce et Marchés de France) entre mars et novembre 2011 sur les 73 marchés de la CU. • “Impacte economic dels mercats” – Institut Municipal de Mercats de Barcelona – 2009 & 2011 Non EU Background Some studies are available from the US. “Project for Public Spaces” (www.pps.org) is particularly interesting and relevant to our project. Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a non-profit planning, design and educational organisation dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Since 1975, this organisation has completed projects in over 2500 communities in 40 countries and all 50 US states. Partnering with public and private organisations, federal, state and municipal agencies, business improvement districts, neighbourhood associations and other civic groups, they work to improve communities by fostering successful public spaces. Within the project they have carried out, some of them are very interesting for the Urbact Markets. All them can be found at: http://www.pps.org/reference-categories/public-markets-local-economies. The following articles and projects are very relevant to the objectives of the Urbact Markets project: - The benefits of public markets (http://bit.ly/QyFka4) - Public Markets Renew Downtowns & Neighborhoods (http://bit.ly/UPkM4j) - Public market link urban and rural economies (http://bit.ly/QIZLTv) - Public Markets Bring Together Diverse People (http://bit.ly/Q5hB3V) - Making the case for public markets as job generators (http://bit.ly/Nmnudt) - Public markets provide economic opportunities (http://bit.ly/V2bfW2) INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Markets: State of the art at EU level 2.1. EU Background 2.2. Markets and Town Centre Regeneration 2.3. Low carbon economy & markets 2.4. Employment and entrepreneurship in the markets Markets and Town Centre Regeneration The link between Markets and the Town centre regeneration will be approached from three complementary perspectives: - Territorial - Social - Economic Territorial perspective Due to their historical developments, markets are usually located in a centre part of the cities or neighbourhoods and, most of the times, an initiative around town centre regeneration implies one of the most important markets of each city. For instance, covered markets in city centres are often located in an historical environment, surrounded by historic buildings and a whole regeneration activity is often undertaken when acting on them. Some cities, especially those of the convergence regions, carried out in the last years some city centre remodelling projects partly financed through European funds that implied the renewal of some of their markets and/or their surroundings. However, the centrality of the market is not always taken into account when an urban planning strategy is being developed, possibly due to the lack of an existing body with whole competences on markets that can lead, or at least influence the urban planning of the city. Markets and Town Centre Regeneration Territorial perspective (cont.) • However, there are successful examples in Europe of how markets can be the focal point and guideline