Urban policy and regeneration

• Urban regeneration is an attempt to reverse urban decline by improving the physical structure and the economy of an area.
• In all regeneration programmes, public money is used in an attempt to encourage private investment into an area.
• Margaret Thatcher was prime minister between 1979 and 1990 and led the biggest shake up in urban policy and regeneration in the last 50 years. 
• Reasons for UK urban regeneration

  • Suburbanisation
  • Counter-urbanisation
  • Decentralisation
  • Growth of out of town retail parks 
  • Decline in manufacturing industry
  • Rise in quaternary industry located out of town
  • Increase in car use
  • Increase in number of home-based workers
  • Increase in number of customers shopping online