Regeneration in the UK

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Evaluating the Need for Regeneration

There are several ways to evaluate the need for regeneration. These can be quantitative (numerical data) or qualitative (non-numerical data). Different types of data can provide different representations of places.

Quantitative methods of evaluation

Quantitative methods for evaluating the need for regeneration include:
- Census data - this shows population growth rates, age categories, ethnicity and health.
- Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data.
- Labour force surveys - these show average incomes, types of jobs and whether they are full or part-time.

Qualitative methods of evaluation

Qualitative methods for evaluating the need for regeneration include:
- Photographs - e.g. online sources such as Flikr or Google Earth.
- Postcards and paintings.
- Written documents - novels, old newspaper accounts, poems, marketing literature.
- TV documentaries, TV programmes, films, videos and songs.
- Interviews or questionnaires.
- Social media sources - e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Trip Advisor, blogs.

UK Government Policies to Facilitate Regeneration

The UK government plays a key role in regeneration by facilitating investment in infrastructure. It also controls the rate and type of development by using planning restrictions and legislation.

Infrastructure

Investment in UK infrastructure seeks to address issues of regional accessibility and economic growth.

National infrastructure projects

National projects include:
- The UK motorway network, including adding new routes and maintaining existing ones.
- The HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham, which will then be extended to Manchester and Leeds.
- The development of regional airports (e.g. Newcastle, Manchester and Robin Hood in Doncaster).
- The roll-out of broadband across the UK (including rural areas). BT is mandated to manage this and meet the minimum standards set by the government.

Regulation

National government sets the planning policies within which development cannot happen:
- Greenbelt land is protected green space (often farmland around urban areas).
- Conservation areas have strict planning regulations that stop the development of almost anything except small-scale residential and commercial schemes.

Regulation - 'planning gain'

'Planning gain' is a scheme for new private homes, where they only get planning permission if they include a certain percentage of affordable homes. They can also offer to improve infrastructure, but the developer has to pay for this.

Energy

Some developments are approved by the government because they are in the 'national interest'.
Fracking for shale gas, quarrying and nuclear power stations may be approved for this reason.
- E.g. In 2018, Cuadrilla got approval from the government to frack for gas in Lancashire.

Recent UK Government Regeneration Policies

There have been many attempts since 2000 to regenerate areas of the country. Some initiatives include:

House-building targets

There is a severe housing shortage in the UK.
The government has set house-building targets, for example 200,000 per year between 2010-15. But this target was not met.

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)

Between 2000 and 2010, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) worked to combine private and public investment to regenerate key sites in cities.

Flagship buildings

Flagship or landmark buildings that had a high visual impact received planning permission.
The aim was to 'kick-start' investment with other local businesses and developments surrounding these areas.
The current redevelopment of Battersea Power Station could be called a flagship development.

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)

Since 2010, regeneration has been led by private investment (Local Enterprise Partnerships – LEPs) often involving retail developments (e.g. Westfield schemes) and private housing developments.

Local councils

At the local level, local councils act as advisors and facilitators to a lot of these initiatives.
The ERDF funds projects at the EU level and many of these happen in the UK.