Urban Policy and Regeneration 1979-2000s

Question 1

When were Property-Led Initiatives used as an urban policy? What is an example policy? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 1

Property Led Initiatives were used as an urban policy from 1979-1991. An example of this is the use of Urban Development Corporations (UDCs).

Question 2

Which groups were involved in Urban Development Corporations? What was the aim of this policy? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 2

UDCs emphasised private sector and local business involvement, with the aim being for this coalition to buy declining land using public money, to build infrastructure and then market it to attract private investment.

Question 3

What successes were there of Urban Development Corporations? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 3

UDCs attracted new businesses to run down areas, improving the urban environments. This created 190,000 new jobs nationally, with £4bn of public money and £12bn of private money invested.

Question 4

What failures were there of Urban Development Corporations? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 4

UDCs had a property led approach which only tackled financial problems rather than social inequalities. Locals had minimal involvement and conflict was created when wealthy professionals began moving to poor areas.

Question 5

What named example is there of property led initiatives being used? Why was this needed? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 5

Property led initiatives resulted in the development of a UDC in London Docklands. This was needed as the area has seen mass urban decline and dereliction since the loss of trade here. Unemployment and loss of spending led to decline of local business.

Question 6

What successes were there of the London Docklands UDC? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 6

The Docklands UDC attracted £6 of private investment for every £1 of public money invested. It built 24,000 new homes, 11 primary and 2 secondary schools. Meant that 85,000 people work at London Docklands.

Question 7

What failures were there of the London Docklands UDC? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 7

The Docklands UDC created a tense relationship with boroughs, created jobs in finance rather than unskilled work, meant that new houses were too expensive for unskilled workers or not large enough for large families, community of Docklands was damaged.

Question 8

When were Partnership Schemes used as an urban policy? What is an example policy? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 8

Partnership schemes were used between 1991 and 1997, with City Challenge schemes an example policy.

Question 9

Which groups were involved in City Challenge? What were the aims of this policy? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 9

Partnership Schemes involved local leadership and partnerships between local authorities, volunteers, communities and private sector businesses. This aimed to reduce social, economic and environmental problems in run down cities and towns. Awarded the ‘best’ schemes with regeneration grants.

Question 10

What were successes of City Challenge? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 10

Local authorities bidding for funding meant more successful schemes, gave equal importance to communities, buildings, people and values, created 53,000 jobs and improved 40,000 houses.

Question 11

What were failures of City Challenge? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 11

Money was lost in preparing bids by those who applied unsuccessfully, areas in need of funding received none if their bid failed, forced communities to compete against each other for support.

Question 12

What named example is there of City Challenge being used? Why was this needed? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 12

An example of a Partnership Scheme is the Hulme City Challenge Partnership in Manchester. This was needed as the ex-industrial suburb had become run down and seen urban decline following the crescent-design flats of the 1970s.

Question 13

What successes were there of the Hulme City Challenge Partnership? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 13

The Hulme City Challenge saw crescents demolished and replaced with 2 storey houses with gardens and 2-3 storey apartments. Built 2000 new homes, a business park and saw the reduction in crime.

Question 14

What failures were there of the Hulme City Challenge Partnership? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 14

Only 80% of the objectives of the scheme were eventually fulfilled, with unemployment falling but not as fast as other areas in Manchester. Hulme was also still deprived in terms of education and child poverty.

Question 15

When were Area-Based Initiatives used as an urban policy? What is an example policy? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 15

Area-Based Initiatives were used from 1997-2000s, with the New Deal for Communities an example of this.

Question 16

Who was involved in the New Deal for Communities? What were the aims of this scheme? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 16

The New a deal involved local authority, government funding, residents, local business and community organisations. The aim was to narrow the gap between social/economic indicators in deprived areas and the rest of the country.

Question 17

What were successes of the New Deal for Communities? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 17

The 2002-08 New Deal saw an improvement in 32/36 indicators measured, including crime, healthcare, unemployment, housing and physical environment. Gaps narrowed between national and local authority levels.

Question 18

What failures were there of the New Deal for Communities? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 18

The New Deal saw minimal net change achieved in indicators for education, worklessness, with larger changes in terms of place outcomes rather than those related to people.

Question 19

What named example is there of the New Deal for Communities being used? Why was this needed? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 19

The New Deal was utilised in Plymouth through the Devonport Regeneration Company. This was to overturn urban decline since the Navy had requisitioned the dockyard in the 1950s, meaning its prosperity as a trading town was damaged. Many naval jobs had also declined due to cutbacks.

Question 20

What were successes of the New Deal for Communities in Devonport, Plymouth? - Urban Policy (1979-2000s)

Answer 20

10 years of funding from the New Deal saw crime, housing and community issues being addressed. Also aided education, health and employment. The physical environment has been improved. The Naval Wall has been removed, with old housing demolished and replaced by more suitable social/private housing.