Understanding Community Empowerment in Urban Regeneration and Planning in England: Putting Policy and Practice in Context

Abstract

Community involvement in the fields of town planning and urban regeneration includes a wide range of opportunities for residents and service users to engage with networks, partnerships and centres of power. Both the terminology and degree of the transfer of power to citizens varies in different policy areas and contexts, but five core objectives can be identified. This article approaches the subject of community empowerment by exploring the theoretical literature; reviewing recent policy pronouncements relating to community involvement in England and by discussing a recent case study of an Urban II project in London. The conclusions suggest that community empowerment is always likely to be partial and contingent on local circumstances and the wider context.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Ian Sesnan, Consultant Interim Director to the Stockwell Partnership, for guidance and advice in writing this article.

Notes

This article was written before the 2010 General Election in the UK. Although at the time of publication any changes resulting from this are still unclear, the political rhetoric surrounding empowerment and localism suggest that the trajectory of change as described here will not be substantially changed.