North’s regen impact measured in 25-year progress report by Brabners
The law firm’s Making Places Work study paints a mixed picture when analysing how effective regeneration projects have been at improving health outcomes for residents.
Brabners’ report combines quantitative data on jobs, income, housing, health, civic engagement, and education levels to score the impact of regeneration projects across the North.
Qualitative insights from a series of discussions with regeneration experts was also used to formulate the findings.
South Ribble Council and West Lancashire Council are the most improved areas over the last 25 years, according to the report, making progress in areas including productivity, higher incomes, and outcomes for child obesity and child poverty. South Ribble tops the charts for productivity, witnessing a £23 GVA per hour rise in wages since 2000.
Cheshire East, Chorley, Gateshead, Hyndburn, Manchester, North Tyneside, Ribble Valley, Stockport, Trafford, Westmorland & Furness, and Wyre have been labelled as high achievers by Brabners.
Kingston upon Hull, in East Yorkshire, has seen the biggest rise in first-time buyers, with Knowsley, Preston, Hyndburn, and Salford making up the top five. Selby in Yorkshire has seen employment rise by 14%.
Iain Gamble, partner and real estate practice group head at Brabners, said: “This data suggests that investment has been successful in improving life for many people in the North, from booming employment in the North East to strong productivity in Lancashire.
“When you look at the areas that are doing best, you don’t have to look far to find a corresponding regeneration initiative, and in many areas, improving job prospects and incomes have tracked alongside better health and higher turnouts in local elections.”
While metrics in many places have improved over recent years, Brabners names Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, and Bury among those local authority areas for whom progress has been harder to come by.
Urban areas in the North West, the law firm found, are “home to both the biggest successes and some of the most significant challenges”.
Across the board, an increase in job creation and wage growth have not had the desired impact on health outcomes since 2000, the report concludes. Life expectancy has remained flat while childhood obesity has gone up in 95% of northern local authority areas. Gateshead in the North East is one of a very few local authorities where levels of child obesity have not increased.
“The story is not uniformly positive and offers some clear lessons for future projects,” Gamble added.
“Rising child poverty in places with improving economic data is a sure sign that not all local people are benefiting. Future regeneration efforts must ensure that economic growth translates into tangible improvements for all residents, particularly the most vulnerable families. This requires a new era of greater collaboration defined by pace — driving projects with discipline and rigour; and purpose — the collective will to drive change.”
