• Land and Housing Review
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.33-53
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• 2017

The UK Government's approach to how to deliver regeneration in its towns and cities has changed considerably in recent years. Traditionally, urban regeneration policy focused on reversing physical, economic and social decline in an area where market forces would not do this without intervention. Since 2010 urban regeneration has become a vital part of the Government's approach to increasing local growth and competitiveness and building a strong and balanced economy. The current emphasis is on a place-based approach to regeneration that builds on the particular strengths of different places to drive growth and addresses the factors that hold them back. This paper outlines the key features of current UK urban regeneration policy and how interventions to support regeneration and growth are being pursued at different spatial scales to ensure all parts of the country benefit. They include pan regional initiatives like the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Way, to groups of local authorities operating at a sub regional level (combined authorities/city regions), Local Enterprise Partnerships, and a variety of smaller scale programmes delivering regeneration in areas of economic and social decline. The paper explains some of the policy instruments and funding programmes available to support regeneration, and provides case studies of some major urban regeneration projects that illustrate the new approach including housing and infrastructure improvements like the planned High Speed Rail 2 line. These are supporting regeneration through the creation of strategic partnerships involving government, places and investors. The paper concludes with some lessons from past and future regeneration schemes to improve their effectiveness and impact on places and enhance local growth potential.