The Centre for Cities has published a Cities Manifesto calling for the government to take a fresh look at urban economies, their goverance and incentives to economic growth, as well as the support given to struggling cities experiending long term decline. The manifesto recomends that the governmnet set up a new Urban Taskforce to "take a fresh look at the medium-term economic prospects for cities struggling to recover from industrial decline, and to recommend a new approach to urban regeneration".
DEMOS have published Civic Streets a report that looks at the xperience of two eststes two estates, Balsall Heath and Castle Vale, which have engaged in an extraordinary renewal that has involved residents, the third sector and business. The stories of these estates are not without disappointments but they are crucial to understand what success communities can achieve on their own, what help may be needed and where there are barriers to real empowerment and change. The report raises the question of the impact of super market devlopments.
Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation questions the Demos conclusions on supermarkets: Supermarkets don't regenerate communities – they hoover money out .
'There is a whiff of inverted snobbery in the suggestion that poor neighbourhoods need a big supermarket to feel good about themselves. It also ignores the under-supported capacity of communities to do things for themselves.'