Urban Regeneration–A Cutting Edge Review and Synthesis of Recent Developments

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A new book written by notable experts in the field: The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration provides a comprehensive analysis of the globalised phenomenon of urban regeneration, highlighting the seemingly intractable problems, challenges, dilemmas and best policy and practice across the globe.

In a press release on Wednesday 16 October 2013 (World Food Day) The Trussell Trust rammed home the problems of poverty and deprivation faced by a significant proportion of people living in the UK, the world’s seventh richest country, stating:

"Over 350,000 people received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust foodbanks between April and September 2013, triple the numbers helped in the same period last year. The Trussell Trust says that UK hunger is getting worse and the charity is calling for an inquiry into the causes of UK food poverty and the consequent surge in foodbank usage."

Recent riots, street crime, drug crime, child abuse, delinquency in schools and fuel poverty also point to the stresses which British society faces, especially in urban areas. Deep public spending cuts under the present coalition government have exacerbated most of these problems but food and fuel poverty began to escalate under Tony Blair’s New Labour governments. Blair chose the deeply troubled Aylesbury public housing estate in South London, a dramatic symbol of socio-economic problems, to make his first speech as Prime Minister, saying:

"I have chosen this housing estate to deliver my first speech as Prime Minister for a very simple reason. For 18 years, the poorest people in our country have been forgotten by government. They have been left out of growing prosperity, told that they were not needed, ignored by the Government except for the purpose of blaming them. I want that to change."

Sixteen years later more people than ever seem to be left out. The Trussell Trust’s shocking foodbank revelations have quite rightly sparked a national debate. Unfortunately, familiar and predictable party political and right-left battle lines have already emerged. But most people agree that Britain continues to face serious problems of what might be called multiple deprivation, which are impacting the lives of millions of people, both unemployed and employed. The strain on the public and voluntary sectors is near breaking point. Yet Britain is not the only country facing multiple deprivation – it is a global phenomenon. What is also global is the range of urban regeneration strategies and projects initiated around the world in response. Some of these bring significant improvements, others only make things worse.

A new book written by notable experts in the field: The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration provides a comprehensive analysis of the globalised phenomenon of urban regeneration, highlighting the seemingly intractable problems, challenges, dilemmas and best policy and practice across the globe.

We hope you or one of your colleagues may wish to review the book on behalf of your readers. A review copy request form can be found at the following location – see http://www.routledge.com/resources/review_copy_request/ for more details. Or attend The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration Book Launch and Conference on Thursday, 6 February 2014 from 16:00 to 19:30 (GMT) at London South Bank University.

Christopher Hardin
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Quick facts

A new definition of ‘aspirational regeneration’
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Foreword by Lord Michael Heseltine
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70 chapter authors - 50 chapters, 20 countries, many in the Global South
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A nine-point research, policy and practice agenda
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Quotes

With international scholarship and case studies from every continent, this Companion is destined to be an essential reference for anyone interested in urban regeneration. Accessible essays cover every aspect of the problems cities face worldwide and report on the solutions that have been tried using the latest research.
Yvonne Rydin, Professor of Planning, Environment and Public Policy, Director of UCL Environment Institute, UCL
The Companion is extraordinary in the scope of the cases covered. Focusing on Europe and Asia, it points to the similarities and differences among a vast number of projects in developing and developed countries. It shows the effects of neoliberalism on regeneration programs but also the ways in which resistance to megaprojects has been effective.
Susan S. Fainstein, Visiting Professor, LKY School, National University of Singapore and Senior Research Fellow, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Leary and McCarthy’s impressive collection of papers is a timely reminder that urban regeneration is not confined to the glamour cities of North America or the command and control centers of the EU. Urban regeneration is global, complex, multi-faceted and not always right.
Professor Robin Boyle, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Wayne State University, USA