Role of Local Authorities in Urban Regeneration Essay

Role of Local Authorities in Urban Regeneration - Essay Example While urban re-generation is seen as an agent for economic change and reform by many, several also consider it as means of control and leading to destruction of neighborhoods. However, if done properly, urban regeneration is seen in a favorable light and is beneficial for societies. In this report, I’ll discuss the role of local authorities in urban regeneration and how they can help to enhance this process and make it more useful for their particular areas. Impact of Urban Regeneration: Change is an on-going process. Cities go through a constant phase of change whether it is slow or fast. In the past few decades Many European cities have undergone very rapid change which has led to suburbanization and the restructuring of the economic base of the cities (Couch et. al, 2003). Urban regeneration is the answer to these problems. While it may have a downside, but if proper urban re-development plans ate launched, they can solve a lot of urban environmental problems, bring areas to beneficial use and also bring about economic change by creating lost jobs. As external changes occur in a country, various social, economic and other problems are faced by cities. Many states in the UK faced the need of urban regeneration as they faced problems in the post-war period (Jones & Evans, 2008). From now to then, urban regeneration has become a central part of governments combined with various businesses. Role of Local Authorities When cities face problems like people moving out and as a result property prices and the value of that area declining, urban regeneration becomes the need to revive that particular city. Various UK cities have gone through this problem. For example, the city of Salford is going through the same trend and people are moving out. As officials devise regeneration plans for the city, to make these plans successful, the support of all partners, the community and local authorities is very important. While various stakeholders are involved in the process and bring capital and other resources to this process, the role of the loc al government is essential for effective regeneration. Local authorities can better tackle regeneration and integrate this process with their other programs as well to obtain positive outcomes through their core services. Since local authorities are dealing with the issues of their particular city, they can also embed this process and use their service department outputs to handle this process effectively. Local Authorities and the Role of Stakeholders When the local authority shows interest in this process and takes charge of it, various other stakeholders also support them. Some of the examples of these stakeholders are: If local authorities own the regeneration process for their particular city, then their word will act as a strong factor in attracting financiers and other private companies to come forward and be part of the process. The local people have ideas about what the community wants and if they are supported by the local authorities, they can act as a responsive medium f or constructive and cost-effective services