Urban Regeneration in Northern Ireland

Consultation on proposals for a new

Strategy for Neighbourhood

Renewal

Urban Regeneration and Community Development

Group

Northern Ireland ExecutiveCommittee Programme forGovernment

• Promotion of equalityand human rights

• Tackling poverty andsocial disadvantage

• Renewal of the mostdisadvantagedneighbourhoods

• Sustaining andenhancing localcommunities in the mostdisadvantaged urbanareas; and

• Improving communityrelations and tackling thedivisions in our society

Purpose

To provide overview of contents of consultation document previously published:-

Where we have come from/key lessons learned

Current urban regeneration issues

Possible future strategic direction

Examine possible delivery mechanisms

Many successful Programmes: Laganside, UDG, EI,CD,CRISP, MBW, LRI;

Measures have been developed over time

to deal reactively with evolving

urban problems;

Mix of resources inc: mainstream public funds,

EU, IFI.

Where have we come from?

iv. Independent evaluations have indicated that:-

v. Physical and economic, as opposed to social regeneration has been

emphasised; has not always had desired impact onsocial inclusion

vi. Effective regeneration requires development of cross-cutting

policies/joined up delivery across public

service

What key lessons have been

learned?

Effective regeneration brings together four strands of people, jobs, services,

infrastructure

Improving quality of life within disadvantaged communities requires

active engagement of these communities

What key lessons have been learned?

Key Urban Regeneration Issues

Multiple deprivation exists in significant concentrations in cities and large towns;

Has persisted over time from one generation to the next;

Manifestation of urban areas with widespread multiple deprivation is well documented;

Characterised by- dominance of social

housing

high unemployment and dependence on state benefits

low average income and high levels of poverty

low levels of skills and qualifications

below average standards of health

above average crime rates

Key Urban Regeneration Issues

Continuing need to address economic and social problems in urban areas;

Existing policy instruments lack coherence and integration but retain value as engines for change;

We want to to co-ordinate more effectively action to reduce inequalities within and between urban communities;

The Proposed Strategy

Key components of the new strategy are:-

To tackle the most acute deprivation/disadvantage;

To place regeneration at the centre of the work of

departments, agencies and programmes;

To empower communities to shape, then drive, urban

renewal initiatives focused at the neighbourhood level;

The Proposed Strategy

To move away from project / policy instrument-led

regeneration towards an area/needs based approach;

To develop city and town centres strengthening linkages with disadvantaged areas;

To develop and implement plans on a partnership basis; and

For the purpose of achieving sustainable renewal and stability to commit to a 7 to 10 year implementation time-scale

The Proposed Strategy

An urban regeneration framework structure is proposed to include:-

At regional level, inter-Departmental Group,

led by DSD, will provide strategic leadership and overall accountability;

At District Council level, evolving Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs)

under Peace II;

Delivering the strategy

At local level, neighbourhood renewal initiatives linked to LSPs of Peace II

Town/city centre regeneration, led by DSD,

in consultation with public / private sector organisations

Delivering the strategy

Firstly: to put tackling of most acute

deprivation/ disadvantage at heart of all regeneration activity;

Secondly: to focus regeneration activity

at the neighbourhood level and empower communities to shape, and then drive, urban renewal initiatives in their own areas;

Summary

Key components of the New Strategy

are:-

Thirdly: to encourage Departments/Agencies to

place regeneration at the centre of work programmes;

Finally: to commit to 7 to 10 year planning and

implementation timescale, for sustainable renewal and stability to be achieved.

Summary

What happens next

Consultation period (extended to end October)

Responses analysed and assessed

Detailed strategy devised and endorsed

Agreed strategy launched