The Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland will launch its final report next month on the 28th May at the annual 'Conference of the Isles' in Newcastle, Co. Down. Response to the Commission's Issues Paper in November has been strong and the final report will contain key recommendations on the way forward for housing in Northern Ireland. Further information about the Commission on the Future for Housing can be obtained from Grainia Long (grainia.long@cih.org). For more details
on the 'Conference of the Isles', please contact Edel Hughes (edel.hughes@cih.org).
Friday 26 March 2010
NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM CLG
New publications from CLG include the report on housing land supply and the cost of the review of sustainable homes:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/research1/researchpublications/
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/research1/researchpublications/
Tuesday 9 March 2010
BOOK REVIEWERS NEEDED FOR HOUSING STUDIES JOURNAL
The journal of Housing Studies is seeking to expand its database of potential reviewers. If you would be interested in reviewing publications for the journal, please get in touch with the Reviews Editors, and provide your contact details and areas of interest. The journal is especially keen to hear from early-career researchers, both postgrads and postdocs.
For further information contact the incoming Reviews Editors:
John Flint (J.F.Flint@shu.ac.uk)
and
Kim McKee (km410@st-andrews.ac.uk)
For further information contact the incoming Reviews Editors:
John Flint (J.F.Flint@shu.ac.uk)
and
Kim McKee (km410@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Monday 1 March 2010
NEWS FROM CLG
New research publications, can be viewed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/research1/researchpublications/
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchandstatistics/research1/researchpublications/
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
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
NEWS FROM CRESR
New Projects: Decent Homes Assessment
CRESR is undertaking an assessment of the Government's Decent Homes programme for CLG. The programme has involved expenditure of over £20 billion since 2001 to bring all social housing dwellings in England up to a 'decency' standard. It is estimated that 92 per cent of all dwellings will be classed as 'decent' by the end of 2010. The programme is being assessed on the basis of local authority responses covering standards, links to wider regeneration activities and investment, value for money, tenant satisfaction and involvement, and overall lessons learnt. The final report will be produced in April 2010.
For information about the project please contact Professor Ian Cole, (I.D.cole@shu.ac.uk)
CRESR is undertaking an assessment of the Government's Decent Homes programme for CLG. The programme has involved expenditure of over £20 billion since 2001 to bring all social housing dwellings in England up to a 'decency' standard. It is estimated that 92 per cent of all dwellings will be classed as 'decent' by the end of 2010. The programme is being assessed on the basis of local authority responses covering standards, links to wider regeneration activities and investment, value for money, tenant satisfaction and involvement, and overall lessons learnt. The final report will be produced in April 2010.
For information about the project please contact Professor Ian Cole, (I.D.cole@shu.ac.uk)
NEWS FROM CCHPR
The Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research has been commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the FirstStop information and advice service for older people that is funded partly by Communities and Local Government (CLG) and the Big Lottery Fund (BLF). FirstStop is an innovative attempt to provide a centralised I&A service about housing and care issues for older people and their families and carers. Faced with the potential financial burden of housing and caring for an ageing population, the government is keen to kind ways to inform older people about their options and encourage them to take preventative and proactive steps to make provision for their housing before a crisis. The evaluation began in late 2009 and will be completed in 2011. For more information contact Dr Gemma Burgess (glb36@cam.ac.uk).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
