Memorandum by South West of England Regional
Development Agency (UWP 60)
PROPOSED URBAN WHITE PAPER
Set out below are our comments on the proposed
Urban White Paper on behalf of the South West of England Regional
Development Agency.
The Urban Task Force report is broadly welcomed.
It is far reaching, offering comprehensive solutions to the problems
of our cities. However, the proposed solutions will require substantial
government resource, and the Task Force's recommendation to "make
the need for an urban renaissance a key objective in allocating
public expenditure" must be seen as a top priority. Without
the funds to implement, the other recommendations are worthless.
The worst problems in the towns and cities throughout
this region occur on an area/neighbourhood basis, that is they
are not building, or site specific. The solutions therefore need
to address the problem on an area wide basis. This calls for area
based strategies which deliver comprehensive regeneration across
physical, social and economic boundaries. Regeneration plans should
tackle under investment in housing, health and education provision,
as well as the public realm. A multi-disciplinary, multi-agency
approach is essential, and the Task Force rightly sees the Regional
Development Agencies as a key driver in delivering these objectives.
The Task Force recommendation that calls for the establishment
of Urban Priority Areas (UPAs) will ensure that higher levels
of resources are targeted on an area basis, and are therefore
another high priority.
However, once the UPAs have been defined and
sufficient resources allocated, it is necessary to provide the
powers to deliver. Here the use of streamlined planning and compulsory
purchase powers are essential, and we consider that recommendations
for simplified planning zones and reform of CPO procedures are
other top priorities. The ability of the RDAs as key delivery
agencies to work effectively is particularly dependent upon the
strengthening of their land assembly powers. This could be achieved
relatively quickly and simply through the issue of a Circular
along the lines of Circular 23/88 which provided Urban Development
Corporations with a very effective mechanism (along with their
statutory powers) to achieve the land assembly necessary to implement
their regeneration strategies.
Regeneration is not just about the physical
environment in which we expect people to live. It must cover,
as stated above, every aspect of life including work, health,
education, crime, the environment and leisure. To achieve an urban
renaissance we must make the city a place where people choose
to live, not just a place where people who have no choice have
to live. We should seek to ease congestion by providing work in
close proximity to people's place of residence, thereby cutting
down on the use of cars. Public services, such as schools and
hospitals must be of sufficient quality to encourage a broad range
of people to live in the city. Where people living in our cities
lack the skills to hold down quality jobs, this must be addressed.
The urban renaissance must therefore be about
addressing every aspect of life, including urban design.This requires
the White Paper to define a mechanism for bringing together all
relevant Government Departments. The establishment of Urban Regeneration
Companies, working closely with RDAs, could be a vehicle to achieve
this in some specific circumstances, but will not always be the
most appropriate delivery mechanism.
The RDA's combine skills in delivering physical,
social and economic regeneration. They are therefore best placed
to lead the urban renaissance.
We would welcome the opportunity to comment
further as the Committee formulates provisions for inclusion in
the proposed legislations as required, and we hope that you find
our initial views helpful.
Colin Molton
Director of Development
January 2000
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