In his response to an inquiry into regeneration by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Local Government and Housing Minister Grant Shapps rejected the Committee’s call for a top-down national strategy for regeneration.
“We can’t go back to the top-down, centralised system of
the past which attempted to impose a one-size-fits-all approach to regeneration
with little regard for the needs, circumstances and wishes of local
people.“That’s why I’m determined that communities, not Whitehall, can
take the lead in shaping the future of their areas. Backed by a range of new
freedoms and flexibilities introduced in a mere 18 months, residents,
businesses, councils and social enterprises can take charge of how their
neighbourhood develops and flourishes.”
The government says it has ‘made considerable progress with its growth and localism agendas’ since the publication of its toolkit, Regeneration
to enable growth: What Government is doing in support of community-led regeneration in January 2011.
An updated and refreshed toolkit published last week aims to help local communities, councils, and businesses to navigate their way through the many tools, powers and incentives available to them as they shape plans for their area and their community.