Regeneration for ‘we towns not me towns’…a new agenda for town center development in north Wales?

Julian Dobson, a recognized expert on urban regeneration, deliver a public lecture on Monday the 13^th April to Sustainable Development students at Bangor University.

Launching his new book How to Save our Town Centres, http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?ISB=9781447323938&) to an audience of key stakeholders, Julian Dobson (of www.urbanpollinators.co.uk) led an ‘expert lead’ knowledge exchange activity which was both lecture and field based focusing on cutting edge thinking on local community-led regeneration

Attendees included local regeneration based consultants, councillors and local authority officers and the event enabled the timely sharing and application of ideas about improving towns, cities and communities, given the substantial investment across Wales from Welsh Government Town Centre Partnership initiative

Following the lecture, Bangor University students experienced at first-hand the innovative regeneration work carried out in Blaenau Ffestiniog by Antur Stiniog, Seren and other local agencies.

Eifiona Thomas Lane, Lecturer in Environmental Planning/Geography, commented:

“This is an unique opportunity for our students to take part in an all-Wales book launch and to later enjoy a really stimulating field experience which will examine some interesting examples of appropriate, sustainable and responsible, real regeneration activities ’

Alan Southall of CREW, Regeneration Wales who are partnering the University in this initiative stated:

“One of CREW’s main aims is to promote best practice in regeneration. The opportunity of working with the University to profile examples of innovative and new approaches to achieving integrated regeneration is seen as an important way of disseminating the information to a broad audience. We are really looking forward to a thought provoking discussion with experts and practitioners, headed by Julian Dobson who has a wealth of experience in the field.”

Publication date: 10 April 2015