4.14 - Judgements on Success of Regeneration - notes

Differences in judging regeneration

Both rural and urban areas often assess regeneration based on income generation and economic opportunities for local people, drawing from national and local strategies.

Key criteria for rural regeneration

In rural areas, success is frequently balanced against environmental impacts, as economic growth is measured against potential environmental costs. Measures include any loss of unspoilt landscapes, increased noise pollution, or depletion of natural resources, ensuring that benefits like job creation do not outweigh harm to the environment.

Key criteria for urban regeneration

Urban areas, with higher population densities, prioritise social outcomes, as regeneration strategies are more often judged against social indicators. Success is judged by improvements in residents' well-being and reductions in inequality gaps.

Perceptions of urban regeneration

Different stakeholders may have varying opinions about who benefits from regeneration and its purpose. This is often due to differences in their personal experiences of a place.

Local authorities' views on urban regeneration

• Local authorities evaluate regeneration using official data sources, focusing on employment data and the area's long-term ability to attract further investment.
• They use census data, Labour Force Survey, and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
• Emphasis on employment rates and attracting further investment, though some authority members are local residents motivated to improve their community, bridging the gap between data and lived experience.

National governments and authorities' views on urban regeneration

• Levels of internal and international migration to fill jobs, decentralisation of industries, and attraction of transnational corporations (TNCs) to declining regions.
• Success is seen in the context of the national economy, potentially overlooking local nuances due to limited lived experience.

Local residents' views on urban regeneration

• Residents' views are deeply personal, shaped by emotional attachments to their area.
• Affection for the place's appearance and feel before and after regeneration, which is hard to quantify.
• Long-term residents (possibly across generations) may resist changes, while newcomers might be more open.

Local businesses' views on urban regeneration

• Business owners often see regeneration as an opportunity for growth, but with potential downsides.
• Easier recruitment of skilled workers and increased customer numbers with higher spending power.
• Long-established businesses, like family-run shops, may feel threatened by new competitors, such as chain stores, altering the local economic fabric.
• Local businesses can become integral to a place's identity, enhancing residents' lived experiences.

Developers' views on urban regeneration

• Developers, including development corporations or property companies, prioritise financial outcomes.
• Success is based on profits generated and share values, with minimal emotional attachment due to limited lived experience in the area.

Factors influencing views on rural regeneration

Rural regeneration often involves smaller-scale projects compared to urban ones, but it can still spark debate within communities. Views are shaped by specific rural challenges, leading to support or opposition based on local priorities.

Contested issues in rural regeneration

Renewable energy developments:

• Renewable energy projects, such as wind farms or solar panels, often face local resistance, becoming the focus of NIMBYism ('Not In My Back Yard').
• People support renewables in principle but oppose them nearby due to visual or landscape impacts, similar to resistance against new housing despite recognised needs.
• Accusations of NIMBYism from developers can dismiss genuine concerns about preserving rural aesthetics.

Derelict land usage:

• Derelict land usage in rural areas can be viewed differently to that in urban areas.
• Many welcome nature reclaiming sites like old quarries, viewing them positively, so proposals to redevelop rural brownfield sites may face opposition unlike in urban areas.

Access to regenerated sites:

• Accessibility is crucial for regeneration success, but rural areas present unique barriers.
• Limited road and rail links mean developments like retail parks may only be reachable by car, excluding those without vehicles.
• Increased pressure on narrow, single-lane roads not designed for high volumes of traffic, leading to congestion and higher maintenance needs.

Conservation priorities:

• The conservation of natural spaces can be more contested in rural areas.
• Projects must minimise impacts on wildlife and ecosystems, with negative views if they fail.
• Efforts to commercialise natural spaces, like National Parks, can seem inappropriate, clashing with the non-commercial essence of rural settings.

Stakeholder perceptions in rural regeneration

Similar to urban areas, lived experiences in rural settings influence how stakeholders view regeneration, often tied to deep-rooted connections or seasonal interactions.

Local residents' perspectives in rural areas

• Rural residents often have multi-generational ties to their communities.
• Family-owned farmlands foster acceptance of past changes or nostalgia, leading to welcoming or resistant attitudes towards regeneration, especially if it disrupts traditional ways.

Second homeowners and visitors' perspectives in rural areas

• These groups have intermittent or seasonal experiences.
• They may only see the area during peak times, prioritising seasonal projects like summer tourism over year-round needs.

Local businesses' perspectives in rural areas

• Rural business owners value collaboration due to isolated locations.
• They welcome developments that expand markets, with practical sharing like transport costs.
• Perceptions are positive if involving local networks, and negative if introducing competition that disrupts mutual support.
• Revenue from one business spent locally keeps money within the community.

Local authorities' perspectives in rural areas

• Rural authorities balance economy and heritage.
• Members often have lived experience, focusing on long-term economic health while preserving traditions.
• More supportive of top-down approaches due to managing fewer communities.

National governments and authorities' perspectives in rural areas

• National views may idealise rural life.
• Tend to romanticise 'quaint' aspects, favouring stereotype-reinforcing projects over practical needs.
• Aware of public affection for areas like National Parks, leading to cautious development to safeguard for future generations.

Case study: North Antrim coast

The North Antrim coast in Northern Ireland exemplifies rural regeneration through community-led initiatives, focusing on diversifying beyond tourism and farming. Famous for the Giant's Causeway (a natural basalt column formation that drew over 1 million visitors in 2018), the area has spread economic benefits via bottom-up strategies.

Key initiatives in North Antrim regeneration

Causeway Speciality Market:

This market restricts sales to local produce and crafts, boosting small businesses.

LEADER approach:

• The LEADER approach is an EU initiative empowering local decision-making through public-private partnerships.
• Between 2014 and 2020, the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council supported projects in the Moyle area, distributing £9.6 million in EU funds via a Local Action Group (LAG) with 280 diverse members.
• Shifted decision-making from authorities to locals for long-term regeneration.
• Funding was up to £30,000 for starting small, non-agricultural rural businesses; up to £100,000 for expanding broadband in areas with poor internet access ('dead zones').

This approach demonstrates how involving local stakeholders can lead to sustainable, tailored regeneration.