Success of regeneration 4

Can be evaluated using indicators of

• Social e.g. life expectancy, demographics

• Economic e.g. income, poverty, employment

• Environmental e.g. pollution, derelict land 

Urban measures of population

• In urban areas, where population density is higher, regeneration strategies are often judged against social indicators e.g. 

  • The well-being of residents 

  • The narrowing of any gaps in inequality

the regeneration of salford quays

Background	In the 1980s, the landscape of Salford Docklands was dominated by derelict warehouses  To remove the industrial perception, the name changed from Salford Docklands to Salford Quays  Salford Quays is an area of Salford (Greater Manchester), near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal
Housing	The suburb of Pendleton, located just north of Salford Quays, received investment to:  Modernise 1300 houses and build 1500 new homes  Develop green space to provide more places for people to meet
Transport / Facilities	Improved transport infrastructure: MetroLink Tram  Pedestrianised waterfront area New facilities built: MGM cinema  Copthorne hotel  Water sports centre The Lowry museum The Imperial War Museum
Employment	New employment opportunities are mainly service-based  New employment opportunities attract a younger population (median age = 35)  Unemployment has nearly halved in 10 years 153 businesses set-up  23,000+ new jobs created
Other investment	£550 million MediaCityUK development e.g. BBC relocated there

stakeholder

a person or group that has a direct or indirect interest in the outcomes of particular development or decision

the economic variable

• Is often the driving force of urban regeneration

• National benefits sometimes are seen as more important than local views e.g. the national fracking debate

The social variable

• Any change should cater for the needs of locals as well as newcomers to the area

• Locals should not be excluded or forced out of their area

the environmental variable

• Some residents may have to live in an area that has a poor environment, as they do not have the money to move

• An enhanced environment will attract people to live, work or visit the place

The variable for demographic changes

• An increase in the proportion of younger, working-age people indicates that the area has more economic prospects or greater opportunities for tertiary education e.g. universities

• A decrease in the overall numbers of any age group, in an area, is not a positive indicator 

  • The regeneration strategy may have caused these groups to leave the area

different stakeholders views on regeneration

Stakeholder	Viewpoint	Roles	Possible success measures
National governments and planners	Resolving conflicts over regeneration  Prioritising national goals e.g. attracting TNCs to deindustrialised areas Reduced dependency on benefits	Planning permission  Pump priming to start large national developments	Levels of internal and international migration to fill job vacancies Increased levels of regional gross value added (GVA)
Local governments	Tackling inequality in the communities  Balance out the economic, social and environmental needs of an area Portraying a positive external image to attract investment	Small or local regeneration schemes  Strategies to help regeneration e.g. alcohol free zones, city centre ambassadors	Census data IMD data trends Job creation numbers Amount of derelict land regenerated
Local residents	Better housing and community facilities Improved environment More job opportunities Maintain the level of  ‘community spirit’	The silent majority may be represented by a few residents, who willingly give up time to voice opinions on regeneration Lobby councils  Vote for local and national political parties  Form pressure groups	Rising incomes Improved health and life expectancy Increased access to services Harder to measure the level of community spirit before and after regeneration
Local businesses	Some business owners will boost income through regeneration Other business owners may feel threatened by new businesses opening up in the area	Lobby councils  Invest in schemes	Changes in profit Hiring rates of new employees Increased population, especially the young
Developers	Economic standpoint: profit is essential With no lived experience of the place, the emotional attachment is minimal These viewpoints could lead to high rental values	Funding of schemes	Amount of profit made Value of the shares Increase in land value Increase in property prices

renewable energy

• Developments, such as wind and solar farms, often lead to NIMBYism e.g. local people are for renewable energy but don’t want wind turbines behind their house

housing developments

• Local residents often oppose housing developments, despite knowing more houses are needed:

  • Air and noise pollution created during construction 

  • The extra traffic congestion created on the roads

• Developers attempt to dismiss the concerns of existing residents by calling them NIMBYs

derelict land

• Local people in rural areas welcome nature establishing itself in former industrial sites e.g. quarry pits

• Regeneration plans seeking to build on these rural brownfield sites are often met with negative responses from local residents

conservation

• The conservation of natural areas is often an important element of regeneration schemes for locals

• There is an expectation that regeneration plans should have a negligible impact on local wildlife and ecosystems.

• Local people and conservation groups (e.g. Wildlife Trust, The National Trust) will not support projects which fail to do this

stakeholders on rural regeneration

Stakeholder	Viewpoint
National governments and planners	More likely to have a perceived sense of a rural place rather than a lived experience, so the needs of the local community might not be met Development plans will be carefully considered due to the government’s responsibility to protect rural areas for future generations (e.g. National Parks)
Local governments	The long-term health of the local economy and the traditions and heritage of the area are more likely to be considered by members of the local government  These members are more likely to have a lived experience of the place they work in
Local residents	Residents may have a lengthy lived experience of a place, with multiple generations having lived there Some residents will welcome regeneration, especially if they will benefit from it Some residents will not want the area to change, especially if the regeneration plan is not sympathetic to the character of the area
Local businesses	Will encourage a regeneration scheme that will expand their market and customer base A new development will be viewed more positively if it involves the local business community in the decision-making process Local businesses may view a development project negatively if it increases competition in the area
Second home owners and visitors	People who are regular visitors or own a second home in a rural area, will have a different lived experience to the locals Visitors and holiday home owners are mostly seasonal (over the summer months), so may favour regeneration projects that improve their experience over that time period