UK Regeneration today launched its programme of collaboration on new regeneration projects across the UK aiming to deliver 20000 new homes by 2020.
Supported by investment being raised by Barclays Capital and working with a team of strategic partners – including Jones Lang Lasalle UK, Eversheds, Workspace, Red Box Design Group, and Willmott Dixon – UK Regeneration is inviting local authorities to come forward with places they want to see transformed. These projects will be focused on a new approach to private rented homes in mixed use schemes; they will unlock local investment, improve the local economy and kick start regeneration.
Grant Shapps welcomes UKR proposals
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Whilst I am all for things getting smaller and faster (especially myself) I despair when I see the enormous amount of experience of successful regeneration thrown to one side because something new and preferably cheaper is required. Housing Action Trusts were generally successful but considered too expensive so along came the ‘New Deal’ which abandoned the idea of a comprehensive approach to long term problems with a quick ‘get them into jobs with a few community facilities thrown in’. Now we have the Big Society and Neighbourhood Planning, cheap ways to keep us busy without having to invest in infrastructure or long term commitments.
The private sector is willing and able, the public sector is crying out for clarity and a way to move forward and they cannot work without each other. Time for government to do something and stop wittering.