An article examined the contribution of residential development to aspects of sustainability. Sustainability in the city centre context appeared best served by a majority of young adult residents, added to by a sizeable proportion of older adults, and an absence of households with children.
Source: Rosemary Bromley, Andrew Tallon and Colin Thomas, 'City centre regeneration through residential development: contributing to sustainability': Subtitle, Urban Studies, Volume 42 Number 13
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined patterns of economic segregation in England. It identified both the underlying patterns of deprivation and why people chose to move to particular areas. It was particularly difficult to design policies to attract back older households to cities in order to promote integration.
Source: Geoffrey Meen, Kenneth Gibb, Jennifer Goody, Thomas McGrath and Jane Mackinnon, Economic Segregation in England: Causes, consequences and policy, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined the progress made towards an urban renaissance in England s towns and cities, and made recommendations for further government action.
Source: Richard Rogers et al., Towards a Strong Urban Renaissance, Urban Task Force, available from Richard Rogers Partnership (020 7385 1235)
Links: Report | ODPM response | IPPR press release | CABE press release | CPRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A series of articles examined culture-led urban regeneration.
Source: Urban Studies, Volume 42 Numbers 5-6
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2005-Jun
A survey report said that 42 per cent of towns could be classified as 'clone' towns, and a further 26 per cent of ?border? towns were under threat. ('Clone' towns are those where the retail centre has lost its individual character due to the influx of chain stores.)
Source: Andrew Simms, Petra Kjell and Ruth Potts, Clone Town Britain: The survey results on the bland state of the nation, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report (pdf) | NEF press release | RTPI press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A research report summarized the first phase of a project designed to gain a better understanding of the relationships between town and city centres that had successfully undergone urban renewal. It included a review of the literature and trends, together with the views of experts in the field.
Source: Nicholas Falk and Christopher Cadell, Spreading the Benefits of Town and City Centre Renewal: Ideas and first findings, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A new book critically examined the idea of cities as crucial to achieving the goals of economic competitiveness, social cohesion and responsive governance.
Source: Nick Buck, Ian Gordon, Alan Harding and Ivan Turok, Changing Cities: Rethinking urban competitiveness, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
A revised planning policy statement was issued on town centres. It said that local planning authorities and regional planning bodies should be more proactive in planning the development of their towns. They should ensure town centres were the focus for development, to provide a range of services in a good environment, accessible to all.
Source: Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Statement (pdf) | ODPM press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A progress report presented research findings on the economic, social, and environmental performance of English urban areas. Much had been done to improve prosperity and quality of life in urban areas under the sustainable communities plan. The research underlined the importance of urban areas to national and regional economies, and reinforced the need to narrow the gaps in progress and opportunity between different cities and regions.
Source: Michael Parkinson et al., State of the Cities: A progress report, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A report set out the initial findings of a review of emerging thinking and research on urban and regional trends, drawing on the views of experts in the field. It warned against a 'simplistic and one-dimensional' view of the urban landscape that failed to look at the component parts of urban areas such as inner and outer neighbourhoods, suburbs, and smaller or outlying towns.
Source: Spreading the Benefits of Town and City Centre Renewal: Ideas and first findings, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000) and Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A report said that towns and cities were being shaped by a culture of risk aversion. A hesitation to 'challenge the rule book', and the threat of compensation claims, was leaving architects, designers and their clients little opportunity to create the kind of vibrant public space which helped a neighbourhood to thrive.
Source: What Are We Scared Of? The value of risk in designing public space, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400)
Links: Report (pdf) | CABE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the urban post office network. It said that it was disappointed by the committee's suggestion that the government was not doing enough to support the post office network, and referred to 'unprecedented investment' in the network of over 2 billion.
Source: Post Office Urban Network Reinvention Revisited: Government Response to the Committee's Tenth Report of Session 2003-04, Second Special Report (Session 2004-05), HC 215, House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2005-Feb
A report said that cities outside London had staged a 'remarkable' comeback since the late 1990s, with a cultural and business revival that was driving regional economies. But it also said that the government's determination to create four big growth areas in the south sat uneasily alongside the commitment to erode regional disparities.
Source: Brian Robson, How Fare Our Cities?, reported in The Guardian, 31 January 2005
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
An article examined the role of partnerships in urban regeneration. It concluded that the partnership ideal was a useful policy device, but that it had to be thought through more clearly and applied in specific contexts, rather than seen as the best and universally applicable model of urban regeneration.
Source: Michael Ball and Paul Maginn, 'Urban change and conflict: Evaluating the role of partnerships in urban regeneration in the UK', Housing Studies, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan