Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2009): Community regeneration and development - UK

Participation in local urban regeneration: the case of the new deal for communities (NDC) in the UK

L. Dargan

Regional Studies, vol. 43, 2009, p. 305-317

For many years community participation in urban regeneration was viewed as an inherently good thing, like motherhood and apple pie. However overwhelming evidence is emerging that communities do not speak with one voice. In reality, the sense of abandonment and exclusion felt by people living in deprived areas has fostered mistrust of outsiders and of authority. This makes it difficult for such communities to engage constructively with regeneration projects. These problems are demonstrated in a case study of NDC Newcastle West Gate, which has been dogged by community in-fighting, delays, under-spends and hostilities.