Measuring Regeneration Success
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 5.3.7
Success of Regeneration - Measures
The success of regeneration can be measured using a range of indicators. These include economic, social and environmental measures.
Economic measures
- Increase in local income levels.
- Improved economic performance according to a before/after comparison of IMD indicators.
- Changes in employment and unemployment in the local area.
Social measures
- Net migration (more people moving into the area than leave the area).
- Demographic change from census data may indicate success. More young people moving into an area may signal success in creating jobs. Having a broader range of ages may indicate a more balanced local area, which is good.
- A reduction in inequality in life expectancy and health outcomes in the local area and when compared with national averages. This could be obtained using NHS or ONS data.
- Improvements in educational outcomes according to local school exam results.
Environmental measures
- Improvements in the quality of the environment according to air quality and water quality measures from the Environmental Agency's data.
- Improvements in the amount of green space available to local residents.
- Improvements in security and safety via neighbourhood redesign (pedestrian zones, lighting, street furniture, public art).
- Evidence of tackling environmental stress factors (dereliction, industrial contamination, graffiti, litter and noise). This could be done using policing or projects to install double-glazing in local housing.
Success of Regeneration - Value Judgments
A success to one person may not be a success to another person. Stakeholders are individuals or groups (e.g residents, businesses and local councils) that have an interest in companies or processes. Regeneration may not be a success to some stakeholders because of:
Demographic changes
- Some local people may be forced out of an area.
- Elderly people may dislike a region if it becomes busier and has less green space.
- Some people on lower incomes may not be able to afford to live in an area if it becomes more popular and the cost of living and housing rises.
Cultural differences
- Lots of 'new' people may enter an area.
- They may have different cultures and preferences because they are of different ages, cultural backgrounds or countries.
- The establishment of a 'Chinatown' area in a new city may be loved by some and disliked by others.
Change character of a place
- New people, new jobs and new developments may change the character of a place and locals may like the status quo.
- Building skyscrapers and office buildings in a previously rural town may tarnish the memories and attachment of local residents.
- People's lived experiences, attachments and perceptions will affect their view of a place.
Politics
- Different stakeholders may judge success based on different criteria. This will inevitably lead to disagreement.
- Party politics and competing for votes may affect decisions. Some people may think that 'value for money' is the most important factor. There may be conflicts between national and local government policy and regeneration schemes might be reversed or cancelled if there is a change in local or national government.
Examples of Stakeholder Attitudes
Stakeholders are individuals or groups involved, or with an interest, in a regeneration scheme. They range from residents, businesses, environmentalists to planners and local councils. Their different priorities could be:
National government
- National governments are likely to want to fit any regional development strategy into their national strategy.
- For example, the 2010-15 target for 200,000 houses to be built each year.
Local government
- Local government will want to attract investment to raise living standards in the local area and to reduce the levels of deprivation.
Local businesses
- Local businesses will want to increase footfall, sales and profits, but they are unlikely to want to see an increase in competition.
Property developers
- Property developers will seek to maximise their profits by building more houses or offices and selling or renting them at a higher price.
Residents
- Residents will want higher quality housing at a lower price.
- Residents are also likely to want more employment opportunities, better community facilities and a better feeling of well-being and belonging.
Test yourself on Measuring Regeneration Success
Which indicators are social measures used to evaluate the success of regeneration?
What is an economic measure of regeneration success?
3 examples of economic measures of regeneration success
Which of the following is an environmental measure of regeneration success?
What do we call individuals or groups (e.g residents, businesses and local councils) that have an interest in companies or processes?