Creating a ‘Forward Framework’ for Saxmundham town centre Chris Wade, Director aka @man about towns Creating a ‘Forward Framework’ Forward Framework • key stakeholders • getting organised • action planning • delivery & funds Help & guidance https://people-places.net/creating-a-forward-framework-for- town-centre-revitalisation/ Revitalising Saxmundham town centre East Suffolk Council working with the People & Places Partnership in association with Saxmundham Town Council and Saxmundham Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group. https://people-places.net/revitalising-saxmundham-town-centre/ National resources First steps to recovery (video) https://people-places.net/taking-the-first-steps-to-town-centre-recovery/ Re-opening town centres https://people-places.net/re-opening-town-centres/ 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 • User’s (on-street & on-line) • Digital development • 3000 town centre users • 600 businesses • Detailed & summary reports • East Suffolk comparisons https://eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/town-centre-support/ Turning-around turnover Projected change in turnover next 12 months for businesses 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Increase Stay the same Decrease National East Suffolk Saxmundham Businesses’ likes Businesses’ priorities 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Understanding customers Main Purpose of Visit Duration of Visit Other Other Leisure All day Access services 4-6 hours Comparison shopping 2-4 hours Convenience shopping 1-2 hours Work <1 hour 0% 20% 40% 60% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Saxmundham East Suffolk National Saxmundham East Suffolk National Customer perceptions Customers’ likes Customers’ priorities Customer priorities for improving Saxmundham 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Falling footfall Footfall per 10 minutes 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Busy day (Thursday) Market day National East Suffolk Tesco Market Place Developing digital (customers) Town centre Wi-Fi coverage Digital phone network coverage Regular updates direct from businesses ‘Click and collect’ or browsing Insights through Social media Websites about the town or businesses 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1 (not useful) 2 3 4 5 (very useful) 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 Pausing for food & drink Proportion of Food & Drink Businesses 16.0% 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% Cafes/Restaurants Bars & Pubs Take-aways Customers’ changing experience 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Improved Worsened Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Framlingham Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk averages 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 Businesses’ positive perceptions (partnership & promotion) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Events/activities Marketing/promotions Local partnerships Aldeburgh Beccles Bungay Fram. Halesworth Leiston Saxmundham Southwold Wickham Market Woodbridge East Suffolk Averages Putting a partnership in place 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 Creating a ‘Forward Framework’ https://people-places.net/creating-a-forward-framework-for- town-centre-revitalisation/ https://people-places.net/revitalising-saxmundham-town-centre/ ✓ FOUNDATION; evidence & objectives FUNCTION Reviewing ✓ parking, travel & access ✓ planning & property ✓ streetscape & public realm your ✓ business support ✓ place marketing & branding ✓ digital technology & data town’s ✓ FORM; governance & influence FOLK ✓ community engagement & checklist coordination ✓ roles & capacity ✓ FUNDING; finances & investment ✓ FORWARD PLANNING; strategy & plans Combination of opportunities Coordinated across East Suffolk https://eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/town-centre-support/ Coordinated & outcome-led project planning Growth, travel & streetscape More accessible & appealing to move around: Planning & property; parking, travel & access; streetscape & public realm. ✓? withFlexible an understanding parking & traffic of ‘connectedmanagement value’? high priorities for businesses & customers ✓ Neighbourhood Plan positive policies for accommodating up to 800 new & boosting a “lively, thriving” town centre ✓ Customers positive about convenience (86%), cleanliness (74%) & ease of walking (76%) ✓ Footfall in the Market Place is about <50% of supermarkets ➢ Next steps >>>>> outcomes >>>>> measures of success https://eastsuffolkmeansbusiness.co.uk/town-centre-support/ Diversification & digital ‘Softer’ business diversification & skills development: Place branding & marketing; business support; digital technology & data of✓ retail,Capacity services, for additional hospitality hospitality & leisure? businessbusinesses to encourage based on currentlinked provision, trips from trends supermarkets and knowledge & increased of competing dwell times ✓centres42% of? users considered their experience had worsened in recent years & only 60% would recommend a visit. ✓ Saxmundham is one of most negatively perceived East Suffolk towns for services including cultural & hospitality ✓ Customers’ overwhelming priorities is diversifying businesses ✓ 43% of businesses and 50% of customers see improved promotion through social media updates as an early priority ➢ Next steps >>>>> outcomes >>>>> measures of success Creating a ‘Forward Framework’ Forward Framework • key stakeholders • getting organised • action planning • delivery & funds Help & guidance Putting a partnership & projects in place.