Contemporary Urban Regeneration in the Uk

Moulaert et. al (2003) see contemporary urban regeneration as a universal phenomenon aimed at promoting competitiveness. Using examples from the UK and other countries, briefly outline the key elements and impacts of selected regeneration projects and discuss the extent to which they corroborate or contradict this understanding.

Based on the research undertaken by Moulaert et.al (2003) into urban restructuring in European cities, the aim of this essay will be to explore the meaning of city competitiveness in the context of urban regeneration policies. It will also offer a brief examination and assessment of the reasons behind the shift of focus in urban policies from welfare led initiatives and considerations to projects encouraging entrepreneurialism with the aim to stimulate economic development. Using examples from several cities in the UK and Bilbao in Spain, the essay will focus on describing and analysing the key elements and impacts, which selected regeneration projects and with them the pursuit for competitiveness have had on cities. Finally the paper sets out to evaluate the extent to which those projects support or contradict the understanding that contemporary urban regeneration is indeed solely aimed at promoting competitiveness. Concluding with the suggestion that competitiveness is an elusive idea, where strive for prosperity in the new economy has been largely dependent on qualitative restructuring of the economy and the built environment.
The deindustrialisation of British cities in the second half of the twentieth century had a devastating effect on urban life, bringing high levels of unemployment. The closure of industrial ports, shipyards, chemical plants and manufacturing factories also led to the desertion of the outdated buildings, which housed them. Furthermore the wealthier and more educated middle and upper classes started slowly migrating out of Britain’s industrial cities to rural locations and suburbs, leaving poorer, less skilled

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