Strategic Management

Undergoing development

Town and city centres are undergoing a renaissance and becoming more active throughout the day and increasingly in the evening and at night.
New challenges have emerged in town centres, particularly alcohol related disorder and violent crime and strains on public services.
These challenges threaten the future development of vibrant and inclusive town centres.
Local authorities and others have a range of tools and powers at their disposal which can be used to manage active, inclusive and safe centres.

Our town centres have undergone a renaissance in recent years, with public investment often acting as the catalyst for private investment and development. As well as businesses investing again in town centres, people are returning – both to live in them and to spend their leisure time there. Town centres today are creating more jobs and opportunities, while new retail and leisure development have enhanced their vitality and viability - during the day and at night.

A key feature has been the growth of the evening economy between 5 and 9 pm and night time economy, generally after 9pm. The rapid expansion of bars, clubs, restaurants and licensed premises of all kinds has been a particular change.

Benefits of expansion

The pub and club industry turns over £23 billion per year, and employs more than half a million people, with the average pub injecting £73,000 into the local economy.
There is a new generation of city centre residents and workers, and wider range of retail, leisure and sporting facilities - cinema attendance has more than doubled since 1990
More retail and leisure developments being completed within town and city centres compared to 'out of town'

But every opportunity brings with it challenges. In many places, the night time economy has also given rise to acute late-night problems.

Alcohol related crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour

There is far too much violent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol. The facts are stark and speak for themselves.

In 2002/03, 1.2 million violent crimes were alcohol related - that’s 44% of all violent crime.
One in five violent incidents take place in or around pubs and clubs - accounting for 13,000 incidents each week.
Underage drinking is rife – in undercover tests in 2004, one in three attempts by underage people to buy alcohol were successful.

Tackling social exclusion

Many - especially older people and women - already feel excluded from town centres at night, particularly at the weekend. They fear anti-social behaviour and believe that few activities are on offer besides drinking. About 45% of 16-34 go 'out on the town' one evening a week, whilst only 15% of over 55 do and 71% of over 55s would not go to a town centre in the evening at all.

Pressure on public services

Crime and disorder puts a strain on essential public services, especially the police, the accident and emergency services and the cleansing and environmental services. It also affects retailers and transport operators, while diverting resources from other priorities. The figures are disturbing.

Alcohol-related crime and disorder costs £7.3 billion a year.
Around 70% of night and weekend visits to accident and emergency departments are alcohol related.
The number of beds filled because of crime and disorder cost the NHS between £1.1 and £2.3 billion per year.
An estimated 116,000 NHS staff were the victims of violence and aggression in 2002/03.
Three quarters of pedestrians killed at night would be over the legal limit to drive
Litter from drinks increased 23% in the last year and litter from fast food increased 12% in 2002/03.

The Government is committed to creating sustainable communities, places where people want to live and work – including vibrant and viable town centres. Sustainable communities are:

Active, inclusive and safe
Well run
Well connected
Well designed and built
Environmentally sensitive
Economically thriving
Well served
Fair for everyone

The Government is also committed to reducing crime and fear of crime, and in particular the violent crime associated to the night-time economy. We want attractive and safe town centres that are used in a variety of ways, and less tolerance of those who behave badly and make places feel unsafe.

People are entitled to clean, safe and vibrant town and city centres. They have a right to public services that combat alcohol-related crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour.

Local and public authorities have a duty to do what they reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder. They already have many powers available to help them to do this, including powers to manage town and city centres. They are also preparing to use new powers. Across the country there are many examples of innovative practice and many opportunities for business to play its part.

However, some authorities are not so successful in using the resources available to manage their town centres. All authorities are capable of delivering the services people expect. The challenge is to make best use of the innovations and good practice of those that are doing this well to help those that are not.

The following sections explain the need for effective management of town centres, and four main principles for achieving successful management of town and city centres:
Know your town centres - define the area they cover and decide who needs to be involved in their development and management.
Develop local leadership - develop a shared vision of what a successful town centre is for your locality, and a commitment to achieving it.
Prepare your strategy - prepare a strategy informed by local planning, licensing, transport and crime and disorder that focuses action on the centre and supports frontline staff.
Creating successful partnerships - outlines partnership approaches that enable the pooling of objectives, actions, responsibilities and resources to integrate actions and outcomes.