Publisher's Synopsis
The Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) was set up in 1987 in the second wave of Urban Development Corporations. Although primarily a property-led regeneration agency, it adopted a more comprehensive approach to regeneration, targeting disadvantaged groups and extending partnership to include the community and voluntary sectors. TWDC was unique in setting up a Community Development Strategy which established monitoring panels in its areas of major developments as a way of involving the local community. In addition to its focus upon training and employment and social housing, it was the first regeneration agency to give prominence to access issues. Its public art programme showed how the arts and cultural activity can help to connect the past with the future and give local people a creative part in the regeneration process as well as enhance the physical developments. A place for the community? evaluates TWDC's Community Development Strategy. It provides an in-depth discussion about the impact of community involvement upon the regeneration agency itself and the benefits it can bring to local people. The report examines the training and employment, education, access, social housing, arts and culture and watersports strategies implemented by TWDC. The work of TWDC showed that community involvement is not an optional extra even in physical renewal programmes. It is a necessary condition of effective regeneration. TWDC's experience contains many valuable, positive lessons with great relevance to regeneration policy makers and practitioners. This report will be of interest to public, private and voluntary sector players in local regeneration partnerships and central government.
