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Developer Advisory Bulletin | February 2026
Your 2026 Development Readiness Checklist A project rarely fails because the idea was bad. It fails because something fundamental was assumed instead of confirmed. In 2026, development readiness is not about moving faster. It is about removing uncertainty early,...
The Urban Planner’s Role Is Changing: Skills and Mindsets That Will Define the Profession in 2026
In a recent post, my colleague Eriva Nanyonjo set out five hard planning priorities that cities must confront in 2026. Her argument was clear: the challenge is no longer about vision or policy ambition, but about whether cities can actually execute under pressure....
The Five Big Planning Priorities Cities Must Prepare for in 2026
2026 has begun with very little ceremony for cities. Budgets are already committed, and under pressure, service delivery expectations have not reset and remain largely unresolved, and the gap between what is planned and what is delivered remains stubbornly visible....
Measuring What Matters: Turning Delivery into Lasting Impact
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #17 "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it" ~Peter Drucker Why Monitoring Matters Every town wants progress that lasts. Yet once the ribbon is cut, enthusiasm can fade and focus can drift. Monitoring and Evaluation, or M&E,...
From Plans to Progress: The Power of Following Through
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #16 From Paper to Practice Every community has seen plans that stayed on paper. What makes the difference is action. The Small-Town Regeneration process is designed in stages. Early phases built trust, identified priorities, and...
Mobilising Resources: The First Step in Turning Plans into Action
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #15 Successful small towns see resources as more than money; they mobilise people, skills, and partnerships. Stepping Into Phase 4 of the Small-Town Regeneration Strategy Process By the time a town reaches Phase 4 of the Small-Town...
Making It Official: How Formalising Decisions Keeps Projects on Track
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #14 In the last two posts, we explored the early stages of Phase 3: Develop Options (Step 1) and Make Choices (Step 2) of the Small-Town Regeneration Strategy. First, towns opened the door to many possibilities, using divergent and...
Choosing the Right Projects for Lasting Small-Town Regeneration
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #13 Regeneration isn't just about undertaking projects; it's about selecting the right ones. The best projects deliver real impact, build momentum, and reflect the community's values and aspirations. From Many Options to the Right...
Developing Options: Turning Community Priorities into Action Plans
Small-Town Regeneration Insights #12 The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” Linus Pauling In the Small-Town Regeneration (STR) process, the first two phases set the stage. By the end of Phase 2, towns have listened, reflected, and agreed on what...