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Imelda Havers: We can all help to fill the regeneration gap
THE 1980s was the decade of the Thatcherites, who solemnly told us there was no such thing as society.
I believe the time has come for Yorkshire's regeneration professionals to put the legacy of that remark firmly behind them and acknowledge that now, more than ever, we need communities to take centre stage in reviving their own neighbourhoods.
Reflecting that principle more in our work should be a key aim of the region's regeneration professionals in the year ahead as, despite the best efforts of many in the sector, we still have a long way to go to restore real influence from within our communities.
This is desirable because, at the risk of stating the obvious, it is clear that local people know best what is wanted and needed.
Professional outsiders, drafted in by regional development agencies or councils, are fine on the high level strategy and master planning, but it is local communities who need to be in the driving seat when it comes to delivery.
Yet this factor is too often overlooked, leaving many projects hanging in the air or mothballed.
This is not to suggest that my fellow regeneration practitioners have achieved little in the region during recent years. Anyone who last visited Sheffield two decades ago, for example, would be amazed at the transformation wrought in large areas of the city, were they to return today. And you could say exactly the same on the other side of the
Pennines about swathes of Manchester.
Nor should it be implied that communities being allowed to call the
shots over projects in their areas – though still too rare – is entirely unknown in Yorkshire already.
Evidence of this is provided by Scarborough, perhaps the jewel in Yorkshire's regeneration crown, which was hailed the most enterprising town in 25 nations last year by the European Commission, thanks to its Renaissance Project.
This was identified as an example for other centres to follow of how towns can succeed, despite the loss of traditional industries. There is no doubt in my mind that Scarborough's success is largely down to the leadership shown by local residents and businesses.
Evidence of how effective local people influencing projects can be is provided by community association the Phoenix Alverthorpe, which
recently rescued a much-needed community centre in its urban area
of Wakefield from intended closure by the local council.
The Phoenix achieved its aim by working with outside experts to prepare a business case for a new 25-year lease and to undertake refurbishment work. But the main impetus towards reversing the decision came from the association's own efforts, which included raising finance, galvanising support and lobbying the local MP and council.
As this example indicates, where communities are placed in the driving seat, relevant schemes generally work better than where this principle is not adopted. So we now need to implement the approach on a much wider scale in the region.
There are other changes I would like to see high on the regeneration sector's agenda in 2010 too.
We need to put the environment at the heart of our projects, come up with more inclusive and imaginative ways to raise money and
dramatically increase the supply of affordable housing, particularly in
rural areas which are rapidly becoming retirement zones. But the
strongest need is to rediscover the power within our communities to
make a real difference.
Of course, people on the doorstep will still need to bring
professionals on board to help them, by undertaking tasks such as delivering the actual work involved and preparing key documents, where necessary, but the point is that they should now be spearheading the resurgence of their own areas.
Politicians and quango dwellers have done much with taxpayers' money, but not enough, so it is now time for them to move over and let 2010 become the year when the age of people power really begins.
Imelda Havers is managing director of York-based regeneration
consultants and project managers BlueFish Regeneration Ltd
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