Earlier this summer Places Matter! undertook an online customer survey to find out more about you, our audience, and what you think of the activities we offer. Our three biggest audiences (by sector) are Architects, Planners and those working in Regeneration.  Nearly half of you work in local government with our second biggest users coming from the private sector.  Our big hitters are Design Review used by 39% of our audience, with our training including Building for Life, Building in Context, Manual for Streets and Creating Inspirational Spaces attracting a whopping 83% of you. 

In terms of what you’d like from us in the future there is an ongoing interest in Design Review with more information requested about the process generally, case studies and opportunities to observe Design Review.  With the help of CABE we’re working to put new case studies up on this site in the next few months and we always welcome observers at our Design Review Panel Meetings - see the Design Review pages of this site for more information.  Panels take place monthly around the region and coming in to watch a half-day of reviews is the best way to understand the process at first hand.  No experience necessary, lunch provided and we welcome observers from the community as well as professionals.

In terms of training you’re eager to learn more about the principles of good urban design and if we identify suitable resources you’d obviously be pleased to see a revival of our Creating Inspirational Spaces programme looking at the design of public spaces.  With forthcoming changes to the Planning System likely to encourage a greater  involvement of communities in planning decisions you’re looking for training for local authority staff in terms of how to engage young people.  We have proposals in the pipeline for working with Civic Societies in the region and Planning Aid NW so watch this space for further info.

Finally Places Matter!, like many of you out there, is thinking about how it might operate in the new political climate.  We’re considering our audiences, our funding and our programme.  We’ve undertaken activities of one sort or another in 95% of the local authorities in the Northwest and feedback from the survey supports our belief that we have a valuable resource to offer to cash-strapped local authorities looking to deliver high quality development for the future.  In a recent report Savills* predict an upturn in the housing market from 2014.  Planning permissions given over the next few years will influence how the Northwest performs in a stronger economic climate where the competition for markets is as likely to come from overseas as elsewhere in the UK.  Over the next few months we’re undertaking a series of interviews with some of our most regular users to get their views on how we can help them deliver on their objectives over the next few years.  If you feel you have something to add to this debate please get in touch annie.atkins@placesmatter.co.uk.

In the meantime, we’d like to thank all of you who participated.  It’s been very nice getting to know you better!

*Savills Residential Property Focus August 2012