Regeneration

Regen 72

Written submission from Mike Davies

My name is Mike Davies I have a keen insight to regeneration I feel the evidence that I can offer introduces a much needed focus on the subject matter I am profoundly disturbed by the verbal evidence that has been offered to the Parliamentary Committee.

The rational that I offer can offer new insight on the issue of regeneration.

I believe there needs to be a step change in cultural attitudes towards regeneration per say. As a mechanism which address strategic goals for the for the national economy there is a need to seek and utilise pre-existing resources to aid UK PLC. My first initial concern relates to a practices which has serious concerns, I do not believe in the ethos that people need a Masters degree to understand planning or work in that profssion,to the mutual exclusion of people who work in regeneration and have the necessary hands on skills and knowledge. Professional exclusion of key actors who can shape and lead regeneration must be a key consideration by the Parliamentary Committee, the prevailing authordoxi which suggest planners must be the predominant lead group in regeneration is in my view a false assumption and has serious implications for the national well being.

Our education system has been underpinned by the notion that we need Planners with Masters degree an as a bulwark against existing short comings, never the less we have in essences created a "closed shop" determined by financial resources underpinned by the taxpayers. Many planning schools have over the last have benefited financially and yet there is serious concerns about the quality of teaching and the relevance of the academic architecture in such projects. My counter argument is quite simple in that there are many thousands of people in regeneration and housing who can make a sound contribution to the future of our country if there they are given direct access to the planning environment and dispense with the academic and associated professional bureaucracy which only offers meaningless historical rhetoric.

We must crate the lifelong apprenticeships to aid skills development for those in midlife representations have been made to John Hays the Junior Minister responsible for this area. Money does not have to be thrown at this project it requires it shear "bloody mindedness and determination" to administer the scheme and it has relevance to the` Big Society’ so often cited by the Prime Minister.

The landscape of regeneration can further be enhanced by the introduction of an Infrastructure and Regeneration Bank (IRB) which can invest in commercially viable schemes and aid the investment of LEPs in the regions and deal with deprivation that is a feature of the urban environment. Financial investment would not emanate form HM Government rather European dynamics would come into play and aid the project. We can avoid the follies of the past such as consumerism being a driver for regeneration policy, a stable investment environment s required rather than mere speculative rational.

These proposals which have been advanced are one panacea to enhance the existing skills base and enhance professionalism to the fullest possible extent which can aid the national wellbeing. Using a new skills base to meet the changes created by the IRB is a step-in the right direction.

Regeneration is part of the national psyche and not the preserve of politicians.

May 2011