A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Unequal partners
A consequence of the unequal power relationship between local communities and key partnership agencies, is that land and property development issues are frequently considered in isolation from social and welfare related issues which directly affect disadvantaged groups. Rather, attention and resources are, for the most part, focused on the most visible outward manifestation of the ëurban problem'. This 'problem' itself tends to be viewed in terms of its impact on the interests of the agency or agencies responding to it, rather than as part of a complex web of issues involving a variety of public and private bodies and most crucially, local populations. This process, therefore, tends to reinforce pre-existing tensions between the social, economic and physical aspects of regeneration, and the marginalisation of the involvement of local communities in planning, delivering and evaluating the services that effect their daily lives. It is this covert dimension of regeneration activity which this paper aims to explore, highlighting the broad issues raised by the growing emphasis placed on partnerships arrangements in the 1980s and 1990s. John Schaechter and Patrick Loftman draw on the experience of Birmingham's Newtown South Aston City Challenge initiative to examine the extent to which social policy issues are relegated to the margins of policy formulation and implementation and the degree of resident involvement in agenda setting and decision making. They conclude with a discussion of the key issues involved in establishing the appropriate consultation and participation mechanisms needed to give residents a meaningful voice in the process of urban regeneration.
Unequal partners
A consequence of the unequal power relationship between local communities and key partnership agencies, is that land and property development issues are frequently considered in isolation from social and welfare related issues which directly affect disadvantaged groups. Rather, attention and resources are, for the most part, focused on the most visible outward manifestation of the ëurban problem'. This 'problem' itself tends to be viewed in terms of its impact on the interests of the agency or agencies responding to it, rather than as part of a complex web of issues involving a variety of public and private bodies and most crucially, local populations. This process, therefore, tends to reinforce pre-existing tensions between the social, economic and physical aspects of regeneration, and the marginalisation of the involvement of local communities in planning, delivering and evaluating the services that effect their daily lives. It is this covert dimension of regeneration activity which this paper aims to explore, highlighting the broad issues raised by the growing emphasis placed on partnerships arrangements in the 1980s and 1990s. John Schaechter and Patrick Loftman draw on the experience of Birmingham's Newtown South Aston City Challenge initiative to examine the extent to which social policy issues are relegated to the margins of policy formulation and implementation and the degree of resident involvement in agenda setting and decision making. They conclude with a discussion of the key issues involved in establishing the appropriate consultation and participation mechanisms needed to give residents a meaningful voice in the process of urban regeneration.
Unequal partners
Schaechter, John (author) / Loftman, Patrick (author)
City ; 2 ; 104-116
1997-12-01
13 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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