BOOK REVIEW

Renewing Neighbourhoods: Work, Enterprise and Governance
Stephen Syrett and David North (2008)
The Policy Press; University of Bristol £24.99(pbk)
ISBN 978 1 86134861 6

Syrett and North’s Renewing Neighbourhoods takes the expectations of evidence-based policy making, as outlined in New Labour’s white paper on Modernising Government(Cabinet Office 1999) and adds real substance to the many previous policy evaluations aimed at deprived neighbourhoods. This book thoughtfully presents a wealth of evidence (drawing on research supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation) about both macro and micro level problems associated with such neighbourhoods.

New Labour’s New commitment to neighbourhood renewal (2001:7) had already identified weaknesses in government policy including departmentalism and the setting of short term outputs which resulted in a failure to harness local energy and encourage innovation. Syrett and North work through past evaluations which have often presented only short-term benefits and this book brings a broad range of initiatives up to date. It provides significant new analysis of the longer-term impacts and shows that, despite grand announcements or new labels for regeneration initiatives, weaknesses in government policy remain. They present well-grounded evidence with the potential to shift future policy.

At the start they make plain the economic arguments for neighbourhood renewal and go on to define and explain the mapping of multiple deprivation using five case studies (Sunderland, Oldham, Mansfield, Brighton & Hove and the London Borough of Newham). Their research into the differences of these spatial areas draws on human, financial, physical and social capital. Their approach, as the title suggests, is concerned with work, enterprise and governance and each of these topics forms a major chapter. Indeed each chapter stands alone as an excellent topical analysis.

The chapter on work explores demand side and supply side issues and argues that central government influence is too constricting to enable successful outreach, personalisation and individual involvement for long-term benefits. In analysing enterprise they suggest current policy often bypasses those in the most deprived areas and does not stimulate the better quality jobs. Governance arrangements, they argue, militate against effective economic intervention because they are too centralised, complex, fragmented and often unaccountable. Their conclusion brings together these findings in a powerful summary which, although recognising that much has been done to integrate work on renewing neighbourhoods, illustrates that government is still too centralised, complex and driven by a ‘one size fits all’ mentality.

This is an important book for those working in the field of area-based initiatives. Indeed, it should perhaps be recommended reading for those involved in any kind of governance of neighbourhood renewal as an aid to understanding the frequently confusing array of conflicting outputs. It will help clarify the thinking that is necessary to underpin the visions, strategies and tasks that will be required on future initiatives. This book contains considerable insight and is a work of real scholarship from two authors with significant experience in this field. It is well written and readily accessible to those who are not immersed, day to day, in regeneration projects. It clearly sets out the key messages, supported by the use of the local case studies, and it presents complex issues in plain and precise English.

This book does not intend to address the topics of grand visions or place shaping that are fashionably associated with regeneration activity so, important as they might be, you won’t find them here. Other sources are available for such topics. It does not illustrate case studies outside of England but the messages here will readily apply to projects in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and beyond. For students of neighbourhood renewal this book will distill the topic with clarity and provide grounded illustrations that can readily be transferred to other projects. Moreover it will encourage clear and critical thinking that is often lost behind the targeted promotional literature that dominates the public perception of regeneration activity.

Robert Keats
School of Human Sciences
Southampton Solent University


References
Cabinet Office (1999) Modernising Government. Cm. 4310. London: The Stationery Office.

DTLR (2002) Lessons and Evaluations from ten Single Regeneration Budget case studies. Mid-term report. London: DTLR.

ODPM (2005) Lessons from the past, challenges for the future for housing policy. ODPM.

SEU (2001) A new commitment to neighbourhood renewal: National strategy action plan.
London: Cabinet Office