Planning for small town reorientation: Key policy choices within external support

According to the international literature, small towns are most likely to reorient following structural change if they are rich in natural or built amenity, accessible to large urban areas and have local capacity for change. However, not all places have these characteristics. Focusing on places less blessed with these features, this paper develops a conceptualisation that extends beyond these simplistic empirical regularities/characteristics and enhances understanding of the processes underlying small town change. Drawing on two cases from both the UK and New Zealand, key drivers for small town reorientation are explored, their meaning illustrated in terms of the likelihood of reorientation of the towns’ development trajectory and the key policy choices emerging are highlighted. Whilst small town reorientation is inherently unpredictable, positive forces for change are likely to occur within most small towns. Informed by the adaptive cycle model and how this links to observed case realities, the findings suggest the need for an emergent strategic approach that focuses on supporting a local rediscovery/re-imagination of potential, local adaptive processes of emergence and connectivity as it emerges. Consistent with recent research into placeleadership and place-based revival, there is a need for public support to encourage positive local activity and the development of policies that are flexible to the changing place-based opportunities/synergies that emerge. •Small town reorientation is most likely when they are rich in amenity, accessible and strong local capacity.•There is a need to conceptualise beyond these simplistic empirical regularities/characteristics, which this paper does through exploring the processes underlying small town change.•The paper explores the value of using complex adaptive systems to help explain the transitions which small towns experience.•This conception and empirical evidence supports a flexible emergent strategic approach.•Policies need to be more supportive to place-based opportunities/synergies as they emerge.