Connecting community to the post-regeneration era

Abstract

This chapter aims to bridge the discussion of the history of community in urban regeneration with the rest of the book. It does this by advancing a central argumentthat urban policy has entered a post-regeneration era-along with a specific discussion of the Connected Communities programme. The chapter begins by outlining how and why the era of urban regeneration came to an end, building on the discussion in chapter two, with a specific focus on the combination of broader socioeconomic structures and ideological decisions that have shaped urban policy since 2010. The ideas of localism, city mayors, big society and de-centralisation are all considered, along with practical developments such as the National Planning Policy Framework. These agendas and events are then used to understand the Connected Communities programme and the way that its focus, specifically on co-production and co-development with communities, has come to represent the leading edge of academic research in this area. The chapter concludes by looking forward to the rest of the book, noting the caution struck by chapter 12.

Connecting community to the post-regeneration era

“…This is consistent with the New Labour narrative of urban regeneration, reflected in policy approaches that sought to cut across both levels and sectors of government activity. Matthews, P. and D. O'Brien (2015). Chapter 3 -Connecting community to a postregeneration era.…”

“…At its best this is leading to striking examples of partnership working, such as in Merseyside. Elsewhere the failure to cooperate is Matthews, P. and D. O'Brien (2015). Chapter 3 -Connecting community to a postregeneration era.…”

“…The contradictions of this policy in implementation were exemplified by successive Conservative planning ministers, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer himself, supporting opponents of new development within their own constituencies, while favouring massive increases in housing development nationally with the presumption in favour of sustainable development in the National Planning Policy Framework. Matthews, P. and D. O'Brien (2015). Chapter 3 -Connecting community to a postregeneration era.…”

“…In some ways LEPs return to older longstanding themes in urban policy with their role in delivering economic growth, the competitive nature of LEP funding and the Matthews, P. and D. O'Brien (2015). Chapter 3 -Connecting community to a postregeneration era.…”

“…The argument here is that the lack of public and private funding along with the marginalisation of those elements adding value to regeneration projects, such as culture or community development, means a different era is facing those involved in the practice of, or research on, regeneration. It is also, much more importantly, Matthews, P. and D. O'Brien (2015). Chapter 3 -Connecting community to a postregeneration era.…”