A Place Based Story: Rewriting The Relationship Between Research Producers And Research Users In Practice And Policy

This place‑based story shows how a local authority transformed the relationship between research producers and users through trust‑building, co‑production, and aligning research with practical goals like improving housing and meeting net‑zero targets. By embedding an academic partner, strengthening research infrastructure, widening skills, and breaking work into manageable research streams, the team created shared ownership, improved evidence use, and secured sustainable funding. This collaborative model fostered a culture shift where research became embedded in service delivery, enabling better decision‑making, stronger partnerships, and tangible improvements in health, housing and organisational confidence.