The Reimagine Place team walking down a road

Are you ready to raise your place ambitions? Then let’s talk…

Our
Story

Have you ever felt your high street doesn’t reflect its true potential? Does it feel disconnected from the neighbourhood’s strong community spirit and creativity?

At Reimagine Place we know that feeling only too well.

Rooted in our own experiences of living in underperforming towns, our team is motivated to help places energise their public spaces, create great streetscapes and realise their ambitions.

Reimagine Place was founded in 2023 following years of our team collaborating across different projects through their other businesses.

Having worked in placemaking, community engagement and commercial developments, we felt that approaches to urban renewal had become tired and formulaic. Trust was low and too many people felt that regeneration was being done to them rather than with them.

In 2023 we met in a coffee shop in Manchester and explored our shared experience and aspirations for the future of placemaking, and Reimagine Place was born.

It is underpinned by a strong desire to rebuild trust in development and regeneration, and ensure that failing towns and public spaces are not only transformed, but the benefits of regeneration are felt by all communities.

We bring a wealth of experience in driving change. From working with businesses to develop night time economy strategies and local authorities to deliver plans to transform high streets to launching market halls and major interventions, as well as repurposing empty buildings to become new anchors, we build the foundations for lasting change that wins hearts and minds.

We envisioned a company where every project receives the full dedication of our Directors, balancing the agility of a small firm with the capability to execute large-scale, transformative projects.

Together, our team embodies the essence of Reimagine Place – a blend of passion, expertise, and a deep commitment to making a lasting difference in communities.

We're not just consultants; we're collaborators, innovators, and most importantly, listeners. We're here to help you reimagine your place.

OUR PEOPLE

Our team is our greatest asset. Comprised of experienced professionals with diverse experience, each member brings a unique perspective and set of skills to our projects.

Together, we're more than just a team – we're a community dedicated to improving yours.

  • Hayden is a seasoned entrepreneur and consultant with over 25 years in retail and hospitality, focusing on revitalising town centres. He started in property consultancy, enhancing revenue for shopping centres through innovative marketing, going on to specialise in markets and food hall projects nationally.

    Hayden specialises in transforming vacant or underutilised spaces, regenerating town centres and boosting local economies. A member of the High Streets Task Force and the Institute of Place Management, Hayden is dedicated to creating vibrant, community-centric social hubs.

  • Laura is a highly skilled marketing, communications and consultation professional with over a decade’s experience across sectors including construction, education, charities and local government following six-years as an award-winning journalist.

    Previously the communications manager for South Lakeland District Council in Cumbria, Laura has considerable expertise in crisis management, strategic planning and managing media. She is also highly experienced at managing consultations and has been involved in engagement activities on many local authority regeneration projects.

  • Matt is an award-winning consultant with over 20 years of experience in high street and regeneration projects. He's a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Place Management, co-author of four Grimsey Reviews, and a Local Government Association Economic Growth adviser.

    His work spans advising former high-level government officials and local authorities on town centre regeneration, including economic recovery and transforming spaces into community hubs. Matt has contributed to parliamentary groups, led training for councillors, and specializes in stakeholder engagement and behavioural change, collaborating with the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insights Team.

  • Emma is an experienced consultant with a background in town centre regeneration and market projects. She specialises in creating vibrant independent-led venues, working closely with the public and private sector.

    Emma excels in engagement, developing strategies that effectively reach diverse groups and inform future planning. She leverages her expertise in data analysis and technology solutions to develop comprehensive place strategies. Emma is a Member of the Institute of Place Management and is CIPFA qualified, adept in Green Book assessments and socio-economic planning.

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Delivering meaningful engagement that gets to the heart of communities to reimagine place.