1. Research
Content,False,2281,/research/jpmd/,

Journal of Place Management & Development

Now in its 12th year, with over 30,000 downloads a year, the Journal of Place Management and Development has established itself as a leading journal in critical place management disciplines.
Content,False,3806,/research-projects/,

Our research projects

IPM is at the forefront of innovative research that is transforming how we understand, develop and manage places. Find out more about our projects here.
Content,False,3896,/members-research/,

The latest research from our members

As well as conducting and publishing its own research, the Institute of Place Management also promotes and disseminates the work of its members. Click here to find out more.

Research at the Institute of Place Management

Since the 1980s Manchester Metropolitan University researchers have been studying change in the retail sector and retail locations such as town centres. They have produced over 300 academic articles, won major prizes and awards as well as undertaking a number of applied research projects for the private, public and third-sector.

Their research has been used to influence a variety of policy decisions, in the area of retail competition, planning and improving town and city centres. Manchester Metropolitan University researchers administered the influential High Street Britain 2015 Inquiry, on behalf of the UK Parliament's All Party Small Shops Group.

Researchers have led major consortia and projects, such as the £3.6m Retail Enterprise Network and the £2.4m Agora project both funded by the European Union. The group has just completed a £244,000 ESRC project, High Street UK 2020 and we are currently undertaking research into changing activity patterns and decision making in town and city centres: Bringing Big Data to Small Users.

After creating the Institute of Place Management in 2006, the group has gradually broadened its research interest into general place management, marketing and branding, attracting a number of PhD students nationally and internationally, as well as launching the Journal of Place Management and Development. Since 2008 researchers have led the way in socio-cultural research in the impact of lighting on public places, exploring how lighting contributes to social cohesion and enhancing place identity. We have also published research that investigates the significance of stadium development in cities.

We continue to expand our understanding of consumer behaviour in places, the interpretation of place brands, the influence of culture and evaluations of places. Our place management research is becoming more policy-focussed, for example, by developing better tools and techniques to inform place decision making. 

Our current/recent research projects at the Institute of Place Management can be found here.

For more information about our research contact Professor Dominic Medway (d.medway@mmu.ac.uk) or Dr Steve Millington (s.millington@mmu.ac.uk)