Eric Holding appointed to government-backed High Street Task Force
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Eric Holding appointed to government-backed High Street Task Force

Published on 9 October 2020

JTP is pleased to announce that Eric Holding has been appointed by the High Streets Task Force to help communities and local government transform their high streets in a Government-backed initiative to revive England’s high streets, helping to support their transformation efforts and tackle complex barriers to change.

Local authorities will receive free expert advice, mentoring and other help, funded by government, that can help them to evolve their town centres, progress local plans, bid for investment, and respond to the impact of COVID-19.

The new ‘experts register’ is the first of its kind in the UK - bringing together experienced professionals across a broad range of specialisms, from architecture to planning, to sustainable design, place leadership and civic engagement. The Task Force has recruited highly qualified experts from leading national bodies: Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Landscape Institute, Design Council, and the Institute of Place Management.

These new High Street Task Force Experts, Mentors and Facilitators will deliver a range of services, including workshops with local authorities and communities to explore and build local visions, mentoring for place leaders, and bespoke advice to help councils tackle complex issues that are blocking progress.

“
Our Experts will work with places in greatest need. They bring deep insight into town centre change and experience of working with communities to build capacity. This will support the development of the collaborative and challenging visions our town centres require.
Simon Quin, Executive Director of the High Streets Task Force

The Task Force has provided online support and resources for places since June 2020, focusing on COVID-19 response and recovery as well as longer term regeneration. Appointed Experts, Mentors and Facilitators will continue this work through a mix of remote and in-person delivery where appropriate, beginning in late 2020 with places selected by the Task Force based on local need.

Eric has spent the last decade pioneering collaborative approaches to placemaking, which have been successfully used on major projects in London such as Battersea Power Station, as well as struggling towns across the UK, new settlements in Prague, Minsk and Reykjavik, and large scale urban revitalisation in North America.

“
The Task Force will be a great learning experience for everyone involved. An opportunity to understand the specific challenges of individual towns, share collective experience, and devise creative ways of bringing joy back to our high streets.
Eric Holding, Strategic Projects at JTP
Tags
Retail, High Streets, Town Centre
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