An article examined the contradictions of citizen participation in regeneration, focusing on south Wales. It said the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999 had created a window of opportunity for a radical, bottom-up programme of 'non-prescriptive' regeneration (Communities First), but the programme had been captured by a New Labour policy agenda that shifted the priorities from citizen representation to 'community activation'.
Source: Bella Dicks, 'Participatory community regeneration: a discussion of risks, accountability and crisis in devolved Wales', Urban Studies, Volume 51 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that business rates had a significant negative impact on the retail sector in Britain and were not fit for purpose. It recommended that the government should carry out a review of the system, in particular: whether retail taxes should be charged on the basis of sales; whether the retail sector should have its own form of taxation; and how often the business rates system should be revalued.
Source: The Retail Sector, Eighth Report (Session 2013–14), HC 168-I, House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report I | Report II | Report III
Date: 2014-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that business rates had a significant negative impact on the retail sector in Britain and were not fit for purpose. It recommended that the government should carry out a review of the system, in particular: whether retail taxes should be charged on the basis of sales; whether the retail sector should have its own form of taxation; and how often the business rates system should be revalued.
Source: The Retail Sector, Eighth Report (Session 2013–14), HC 168-I, House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report I | Report II | Report III
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the implications of High Speed Two (a proposed new rail link between the north and south east regions of England) for future growth potential in the United Kingdom, including future rail capacity, national economic growth, and the geographical distribution of growth.
Source: Beth West and Laura Webster, 'What does High Speed Two mean for regeneration and economic development in the UK?', Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Volume 7 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A report examined the challenges in maximizing the benefits from High Speed 2, a new rail link to connect the north with the south east of England. The report recommended that a growth strategy should be prepared for each area around the HS2 stations, with locally-led delivery bodies supported by a central delivery body, and a government minister with specific responsibility for HS2-related economic growth and regeneration. Two other, related, reports were published around the same time: the background research on benefits maximization that informed this report; and a report from the chair of HS2, outlining progress to date and future plans, including proposals to deliver some elements more quickly.
Source 1: HS2 Growth Taskforce, High Speed 2: Get ready, Department for Transport
Links: Report | DFT press release
Source 2: Maximising the Growth and Regeneration Benefits of HS2: Final report, Atkins
Links: Report | DFT press release
Source 3: David Higgins, HS2 Plus, Department for Transport
Links: Report | DFT press release | Written ministerial statement | Ministerial statement
Date: 2014-Mar
A new book examined the concept of an Olympic 'legacy', focusing specifically on housing in London following the 2012 Olympic games. It argued there would be a range of both intended and unintended legacy outcomes and that there was an urgent need to revise strategies in order to achieve the originally intended impact. Taking a sociological approach, the book also examined issues relating to social class, gentrification, social polarization, and the extent to which social inclusion was reflected in housing legacies.
Source: Penny Bernstock, Olympic Housing: A critical review of London 2012's legacy, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the work of Town Teams – a bottom-up, usually community-led approach to place management in towns in England. The article outlined insights from the projects to date.
Source: Chris Hurst and Martin Blackwell, 'Town Teams, Portas Pilots and the future of the high street', Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Volume 7 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the link between the creative industries and wage and employment growth in United Kingdom travel-to-work areas from 2003 to 2008. It said that the data indicated that creative industries drove both types of growth in other sectors, yet when only urban areas were considered, wages increased but not employment. It concluded that the creative industries may squeeze out declining industries from urban areas.
Source: Neil Lee, 'The creative industries and urban economic growth in the UK', Environment and Planning A, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar