Matt Colledge MSc FIPM
Matt Colledge is a Director of IntoPlaces, a placemaking consultancy.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Place Management, former High Streets Task Force Expert and also its Executive Director for the duration of that project (2019 to 2024).
He created and chaired Altrincham Forward, the partnership which transformed the town from nationally lampooned ‘ghost town’ to High Street of the Year winner
Matt supports places to become the best they can, focusing on creating action-orientated place partnerships, strong visions and robust activation plans.
Formerly he was leader of Trafford Council and Vice Chair of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and has chaired Transport for Greater Manchester and NHS Trafford.
Matt’s specialisms
Matt’s project examples
Altrincham
Matt and the IntoPlaces team delivered the successful transformation of the South Manchester town of Altrincham, which the government has used as an example of good practice.
In 2010, Altrincham was nationally shamed as England’s top ‘ghost town’, with 30% of the centre’s units being empty. Confidence in the town had crashed following the 2008 recession. Investors, retailers, businesses and visitors were pulling out at alarming rates, and it was clear that the traditional approach to retail-led regeneration was broken.
Determined to reverse Altrincham’s fortunes, Matt and his colleagues envisaged a different way forward. They drew on the town’s best assets – its people – from across all sectors and walks of life to rethink and reimagine a future Altrincham.
An innovative public, private and community partnership, Altrincham Forward, was set up to drive change across the town.
Using a distinctive partnership model, local businesses and community representatives were galvanised to come together to develop a compelling vision and accompanying action plan to make change happen.
The partnership brought together landlords, retailers, creatives, entrepreneurs, civic groups and the chamber, as well as young people and business people alongside representatives from the council, transport bodies, and those with links to health and housing.
This reignited confidence and encouraged smaller independent businesses to grow. Bigger operators and landlords coalesced for the first time to drive growth. This organic partnership developed into a successful BID that has now been going for 10 years, after a previous, pre-partnership BID development attempt in the town had been unsuccessful.
As a result of this partnership work, the vacancy rate fell by 73%, with footfall and vibrancy increasing dramatically. In Altrincham, the award-winning market was a catalyst for change, curated by the innovative Market Operations company; however, every town has its own unique assets that can be used to harness regeneration.
In 2018, Altrincham was in the media as winner of the National High Street of the Year Award, and it remains a vibrant town that is recognised for the scale of its positive transformation.
Birkenhead – Argyle Creative Quarter
Working with Wirral Council during 2024/25, Matt supported the creation and development of the Argyle Creative Quarter and group with an accompanying prospectus and launch in March 2025.
The project’s aim is to culturally redefine an area within Birkenhead town centre as a place where creative energy, entrepreneurialism and community spirit meet, to create new opportunities and bring new life into the area via grassroots regeneration.
This process is drawing upon the energy and expertise of local organisations and individuals within the area.