Millions of pounds have been poured into Britain's city and urban areas in recent years but the resultant growth has forced many to the margins and dramatised the gap between the 'super rich' and the poorest. That is the message highlighted by Faithful Cities: A Call for Celebration, Vision and Justice, a new report from an ecumenical and interfaith Commission initiated by the Church of England.
The report argues that much has changed in the 20 years since the Church report Faith in the City ignited a wide-ranging political debate on urban life in 1980s Britain. Cities have been transformed, both in how they look and who lives in them. High-cost regeneration schemes and the dramatic impact of globalisation have brought wealth and new opportunities to many localities. Despite this, the report concludes that the extremes of poverty and prosperity are not so different from those in the 1980s.
The Commission on Urban Life and Faith examines the current failure of urban regeneration projects to improve the lives of all who live in cities and calls for a debate on 'what makes a good city?' The Commission brought together church leaders, clergy, academics, activists and practitioners from a variety of Christian denominations and other faiths.
Its report concludes that, for a just and equitable society to flourish, the gap between the poor and the very wealthy must be reduced. Emphasising that cities and towns are for the many not the few, Faithful Cities stresses that regeneration is not just about the built environment and economic targets but is also human and spiritual.
The growth of a regeneration industry focused on real estate, prestigious buildings and big ticket events often marginalises the needs of those in deprived communities, it says. While many of the Government's social programmes and initiatives are welcomed, the report notes a shift away from the earlier focus on collaboration with excluded communities and individuals.
For a just and equitable society to flourish, the report argues, the gap between the poor and the very wealthy must be reduced. It challenges the Government to consider the effects of implementing a living wage rather than a minimum wage. Evidence suggests that the Nation's towns and cities are more divided economically than in the 1980s and the report calls for significant work to be done on reducing the gaps.
Faithful Cities also reminds the churches of their duty to challenge the thoughtless accumulation of wealth that ignores the needs of the poor.
Social cohesion, the report says, depends on the ability of people to live in harmony. Antipathy and racism are endemic among young people, making them prime targets for religious and political extremism. Faith groups in particular, the Commission emphasises, must combat racism, self-interest and religious intolerance at all levels of society.
Faithful Cities: A Call for Celebration, Vision and Justice is published jointly by Methodist Publishing House and Church House Publishing, price £9.99.
Well-designed car parking can help create more attractive and safer communities. The way house builders arrange car spaces can affect the lives of residents and has a significant impact on the public environment.
The findings are contained in a new toolkit called Car Parking: What Works Where, published by national regeneration agency English Partnerships in collaboration with Design for Homes.
The first of its kind, the toolkit identifies the widest range of parking options available to urban designers and offers practical advice to anyone needing to integrate car parking into a residential or mixed-use development.
Innovative solutions are provided to everyday car parking issues. For example, planning wider streets can deter motorists from parking on pavements. Putting cars in view of the home also encourages more street activity.
The toolkit draws on 24 case studies to illustrate design and layout principles. An example is how two-storey accommodation over garages makes efficient use of land. From a visual point of view, the quality and scale of the buildings ensure that cars do not dominate the landscape.
Easy to use symbols in the publication help the reader find the most appropriate design treatment for a specific location.
A major £52 million 10-year project to regenerate one of South Yorkshire's most disadvantaged areas reached the half way stage. As Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC) hit the five year milestone, the head of the project said the future of the Sheffield suburb is looking bright thanks to the efforts of everyone involved.
BNDfC was awarded a £52 million grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2001 to regenerate Burngreave over a decade. One of 39 New Deals across the country, it is now seen as a success story, thanks to the enormous inroads made in the area.
The projects achievements include a 40% drop in crime, significant numbers of local people assisted into employment and training, and a host of visible improvements to houses, parks, and shops. Over the last five years, the programme has also helped fund and support more than 80 different projects across its seven themes of education, crime, housing, environment, employment and enterprise, health, and community strength.
