Placecast Episode 22: Ecological Citizenship, Stewardship and Local Democracy

In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Amy Burnett, LPIP Policy Fellow, researcher and practitioner in local governance, sustainability and community-led change. Amy reflects on her journey from working on decentralisation projects in Angola to researching town and parish councils in England, exploring how local democracy, stewardship and participation can create … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 22: Ecological Citizenship, Stewardship and Local Democracy”

Placecast Episode 21: Place, Pride and Poetry – Creative Ways to Understand Community

In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Joseph Owen, Nicky Marsh, and Cara Headon to explore how communities understand, experience and shape the places they call home. Drawing on the University of Southampton’s Feeling Towns research and the Mansbridge Heritage Project, the conversation examines the complex idea of “pride in place” … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 21: Place, Pride and Poetry – Creative Ways to Understand Community”

Policy News – August 2026

Policy News highlights the latest reports, inquiries, consultations and research shaping local and regional policy across the UK. Explore key developments in devolution, economic growth, community ownership, skills and place-based policymaking.  View previous editions. If you have a research piece you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch. UK Government and Parliament … Continue reading “Policy News – August 2026”

Placecast Episode 20: How AI Could Transform Local Government

In Placecast Episode 20, presenter Nicola Headlam speaks with economic development consultant and LPIP Policy Fellow Kevin Fenning about the growing role of artificial intelligence in local government. Drawing on research that identified more than 100 examples of AI use across the sector, Kevin explores how councils are adopting AI to support services ranging from … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 20: How AI Could Transform Local Government”

Policy News – July 2026

Policy News highlights the latest reports, inquiries, consultations and research shaping local and regional policy across the UK. Explore key developments in devolution, economic growth, community ownership, skills and place-based policymaking.  View previous editions. If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch. UK Government and … Continue reading “Policy News – July 2026”

Placecast Episode 19: Why UK Local Economic Policy Keeps Failing

In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Glenn Athey, a freelance consultant and LPIP Fellow with over 31 years of experience in economic development. Glenn brings a forensic and refreshingly candid lens to one of the most persistent problems in UK public policy: why decades of place-based economic interventions have repeatedly … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 19: Why UK Local Economic Policy Keeps Failing”

Meet LPIP Place Fellow Andrew Reeves: Focussed on Civic Universities and Place-Based Climate Action

About Me How do we make a positive difference to big environmental challenges like the climate crisis within the specific communities where we live and work together? Broadly speaking, this is the question I’ve been grappling with for 20+ years through a wide range of voluntary projects and more recently as an academic, currently working … Continue reading “Meet LPIP Place Fellow Andrew Reeves: Focussed on Civic Universities and Place-Based Climate Action”

Placecast Episode 18: Community-Driven Economic Growth in Wales

In Episode 18 of Placecast, Nicola Headlam interviews Professor Calvin Jones, a LPIP Hub Place Fellow working on sustainability and regional economics in Wales. The discussion explores how devolved governance in Wales is evolving, particularly in areas such as fiscal powers, wellbeing policy, and green transition. Cavlin argues that traditional growth-led economic models are failing … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 18: Community-Driven Economic Growth in Wales”

Placecast Episode 17: Trust and Place-Based Innovation

In this episode of Placecast, presenter Dr Gerardo Javier Arriaga-Garcia is joined by Nina Ruddle and Sophie Cloutterbuck to explore what really enables innovation to take root in places as different as North Wales and London. Together, they argue that successful place-based development is not driven primarily by infrastructure or investment, but by relationships, trust … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 17: Trust and Place-Based Innovation”

Policy News – June 2026

This blog summarises the latest policy news that is important to place, including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. It is updated every week. View previous editions. If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch. Reports Title Details Published Everything in its right place: Establishing … Continue reading “Policy News – June 2026”