UK regeneration policy should feature Urban Development Corporations (UDCs), according to latest research.
It follows a proposal by Lord Heseltine for UDCs along the HS2 route, as well as calls for the revival of New Town Development Corporations by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.
A report by the European Institute of Urban Affairs has reviewed the performance of the last remaining UDC of its kind; the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation. WNDC was established in 2004, in order to deliver 47,000 new homes and at least 37,000 new jobs.
However, as the credit crunch took hold in 2009, the specialist government body was re-focused on town centre regeneration. Since then, it has supported a £1bn redevelopment programme in Northampton, alongside multi award winning projects in nearby Daventry and Towcester. WNDC is set to close on 31 March this year, having completed its 10 year delivery plan.
Professor Michael Parkinson, Director of the European Institute of Urban Affairs, says lessons can be learned for UK-wide regeneration policy: “After almost a decade of delivery, spanning three towns and £120m of direct investment, much has been learned from WNDC’s experiences. By common consent it had a very difficult start, as the area simply wasn’t prepared for a massive amount of housing development in terms of infrastructure, planning policy and community support.
“However, once it shifted its priorities and working style, it achieved a remarkable turnaround. Cast in a more traditional role of promoting regeneration rather than as an agent for creating entirely new communities, it has proved to be a real success story.”
In the light of the review, which included data analysis and extensive stakeholder interviews, the Institute recommends that UDCs remain part of UK regeneration policy and are offered to urban areas as part of ‘City Deals’.
Professor Parkinson adds: “We’ve found that UDCs are most effective when they’re locally controlled and focused on regeneration. Alternative types of vehicle are better equipped to deliver major housing settlements.”
