3.2.3.1 Urban Policy Flashcards
Urban policy and regeneration in Britain since
1979
What is urban policy?
Relates to the strategies chosen by local or central governments to manage the development of urban areas and reduce urban problems
Regeneration has been a key element of urban policy in the UK since
1980s
Early strategies focused on ‘___-____’ economic regeneration
top-down
Later policies have recognised the need to adopt a more holistic approach tackling economic, social and environmental problems from
The ‘bottom-up’
What does regeneration refer to?
Policies directed at tackling social, economic, physical and environmental problems within an urban area
What does ‘top-down’ economic regeneration refer to?
When the decision to undertake projects or developments is made by a central authority such as the government with little or no consultation with the local people whom it will affect
What are the 3 urban policies in UK since 1979?
1- property-led initiatives and the creation of an entrepreneurial culture (1979-91)
2- partnership schemes and competition-led policies (1991-97)
3- area-based initiatives (1997-2000)
What was involved in property-led initiatives?
- greater emphasis on role of private sector to regenerate inner city area
- coalition boards set up with people from local business community
- boards were encouraged to spend money on purchasing land, constructing infrastructure and marketing to attract private investment
- e.g.urban development corporations
What was involved in partnership schemes and competition-led policies?
- greater focus on local leadership and partnership between the private sector, local communities, voluntary sector and local authority
- strategies focused on tackling social, economic and environmental problems in the run-down parts of the city which now include peripheral estates
- e.g. city challenge
What was involved in area-based initiatives?
- many strategies focused on narrowing the gap in key social and economic indicators between the most deprived neighbourhoods, and the rest of the country
- local authorities were set targets to improve levels of health, education and employment opportunities
- funding was allocated to assist in delivering government objectives
- e.g. New Deal for communities
What is proposed for future urban policies?
- calls for greater devolution of power to English cities, of the type granted to Greater Manchester in 2014
- some feel this will lead to more effective place-based urban policies
What does ‘bottom-up’ regeneration refer to?
When local people are consulted and supported in making decisions to undertake projects or developments that meet one or more of their specific needs
What does devolution refer to?
The transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration
What was involved in the regeneration policy, urban development corporations (1980s)?
- Urban Development Corporations (UDCs) were set up in the 1980s primarily to regenerate inner-city areas
- Boards were mostly made up of people from the local business community
- Boards encouraged to spend money on buying land, building infrastructure and marketing to attract private sector investment
- Funding came direct from central government
What were the successes of urban development corporations?
- Effective in attracting new business to run-down areas and improving the environment of UDC areas
- By the mid-1990s they had attracted over £10 billion in private-sector investment and created almost 200,000 jobs nationally
What were the failures of urban development corporations?
- Property-led approach didn’t tackle social problems
- Local people complained they had little involvement in the process
- In the London Docklands locals tended not to benefit from the new housing and jobs created
What’s a case study example of urban development corporation?
London Docklands Development Corporations
What was involved in the regeneration policy, city challenge (1990s)
- Competitive scheme. Cities with the ‘best’ schemes were awarded government regeneration grants
- A local authority led scheme which formed partnerships between the private sector, local communities and the local authority
- Strategies focused on tackling social, economic and environmental problems in run-down parts of the city
What were successes of city challenge?
- Local authorities having to bid for funding was judged to have resulted in more successful regeneration schemes
- City Challenge gave equal importance to buildings, people and values
- 1997 data showed City Challenge had improved over 40,000 houses, created over 50,000 jobs and reclaimed 2000ha of derelict land
What were some failures of city challenge?
- Resources were thinly spread over large areas
- Areas which had previously received government funding based on need did not receive funding if their bid was unsuccessful
- Money was lost preparing bids by local authorities who did not win funding
What’s a case study example of city challenge?
Hulme City Challenge partnership, Manchester
What was involved in regeneration policy, New Deal for communities?
- NDC Partnerships were established to carry out 10-year strategic programmes designed to transform the 39 most deprived neighbourhoods and improve the lives of those living in them
- Local partnerships of residents, businesses, community organisations and local authorities were established
- The focus was very much on communities being ‘at the heart of the regeneration’
What were the successes of New Deal for Communities?
- 2002-2008 NDC areas saw an improvement in 32 of 36 core indicators covering crime, education, health, worklessness, community, housing and the physical environment
- Evidence found that gaps with national and local authority levels had narrowed
What were failures of New Deal for communities?
- The NDC strategy delivered greater positive change for place related outcomes rather than people related outcomes
- Relatively little net change was achieved for education and worklessness
What’s a case study example of New Deal for communities?
Devonport Regeneration Company, Plymouth
