A report warned that many communities could be turned into economic 'ghost towns' as a result of the loss of local services in smaller towns and cities.
Source: Andrew Simms, Julian Oram, Alex MacGillivray and Joe Drury, Ghost Town Britain: The threat from economic globalisation to livelihoods, liberty and local economic freedom, New Economics Foundation, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Independent article
Date: 2002-Dec
A 15 million fund was launched to help nearly 400 post offices in the 10 per cent most deprived urban wards. Up to 50,000 will be available to sub-postmasters to spend on new retail facilities, such as bakeries or greengrocers, better security, updated information technology, or shop alterations.
Source: Press release 30.12.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Dec
The Scottish Executive published a strategy and action plan for the future development of Scotland's cities, following a review report.
Source: Building Better Cities: Delivering Growth and Opportunities, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Review of Scotland s Cities - The Analysis, Scottish Executive, TSO
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Review (pdf) | Review
Date: 2002-Dec
The Office for National Statistics began work with local authorities to provide the European Commission with information to help formulate future urban policy. The 'Urban Audit II' project involves collecting data on 24 cities across the United Kingdom, on demographics, social aspects, the labour market and the environment.
Source: Press release 15.11.02, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
Making our major regional cities more competitive internationally would add significantly to national economic growth potential, according to an interim report.
Source: Cities, Regions and Competitiveness: Interim report from a Working Group representing Government Departments, London/Regional Development Agencies and the English Core Cities, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 6068)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on new towns, and said the problems highlighted show the need for a 'sustainable communities agenda'.
Source: The Government Response to the House of Commons Transport, Local Government and Regions Committee s Report The New Towns: Their Problems and Future , Cm 5685, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report
Date: 2002-Nov
The emerging findings were published of a research project to review guidance and literature on community involvement and pull out implications for the implementation of urban policy.
Source: Community Involvement: The Roots of Renaissance?, Urban Research Summary 5, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (fax: 020 7944 4527)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Nov
A report presented the main conclusions and recommendations from the 'Partners in Urban Renaissance' project involving 24 English towns and cities. It was found that, while commitment to making towns and cities better places is growing, real barriers to renaissance still exist. The report called for central and local government to work together and find new ways of allowing urban areas to develop as places where people want to be.
Source: Towns & Cities: Partners in Urban Renaissance Project Report, Urban Policy Unit/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3703)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
An interim report was published on an official project to devise a 'town and city indicators database', designed to track progress and to lead to a better understanding of change in urban areas.
Source: Town and City Indicators Database: Interim report, Policy Evaluation & Analysis Research Laboratory/University of Liverpool (0151 7943120), Institute for Employment Research/University of Warwick, and Centre for Urban and Regional Strategy/University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report set out a cross-departmental strategy for improving the quality of public spaces - streets, parks and open spaces - and tackling problems of litter, graffiti, fly-tipping, abandoned cars, dog fouling, and the loss of play areas or footpaths. The government published a consultation paper setting out options for clarifying and improving the legislative framework for public spaces.
Source: Living Places Cleaner, Safer, Greener, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236) and five other departments | Living Places - Powers, Rights, Responsibilities, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000)
Links: Living Places - Main Report (pdf) | ODPM press release | Living Places - Consultation Paper (pdf) | DEFRA press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.7
Date: 2002-Oct
A report summarised and drew lessons from Housing Corporation projects linked to regeneration, placing them in the context of current government policy and initiatives on regeneration and relating them to current relevant reports and research.
Source: ROOM, National Council for Housing and Planning, and RDHS Ltd, The bIGPicture: Regeneration and Housing Associations, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 4.6
Date: 2002-Oct
A report argued that voluntary and community sector organisations have a crucial role to play in urban renaissance; called for a fuller understanding of their role in the development and delivery of urban policy; and said that a more fully resourced strategy is needed to maximise their contribution.
Source: Putting People at the Heart of the Urban Renaissance, Urban Forum (020 7253 4816) and Black Training and Enterprise Group
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report summarised research into the nature of the problems to be addressed by regeneration programmes, and about the aims of regeneration programmes, based on a national evaluation of the Single Regeneration Budget.
Source: Turning Areas Around The impact of SRB on final outcomes, Urban Research Summary 4, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (fax: 020 7944 4527)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 4.6
Date: 2002-Oct
Local authorities and regeneration agencies should be given more power and resources if deprived towns and cities are to be regenerated, according to a report.
Source: Breaking Down the Barriers, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Urbed
Links: Report (pdf) | CABE press release
Date: 2002-Oct
New research (by the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cardiff University) showed that the 'urban village' concept - promoted by some architects and planners in the 1980s - has not yet been successfully implemented.
Source: Press release 12.7.02, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413119)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul