City challenge

• City challenge


  Partnerships - between private sector, local communities & volunteer sector, with groups brought in to consult

  Local focus (bottom up) - focused on soc, econ, env problems

  Competition - cities compete for gov grants, cities with best schemes get grants
• EXAMPLE: Hulme City Partnership, Manchester: 


  Pre-City Challenge:

  • Housed 13,000
  • 30% more likely to be murdered
  • Not safe for children
  • Fast spread of infection
  • Was most deprived area in Manchester
  • High crime rates as high concentration of problem families e.g. theft, violence, abuse

  Political context:

  • Heseltine led City Challenge schemes
  • 30 CC partnerships, over £240m spent
• EXAMPLE: Hulme City Partnership, Manchester ~ successes:

  1. ↓ crime as area more varied social mix inc students and young professionals
  2. Traditional housing development design with streets, 600 new homes for rent + 400 refurbished homes
  3. The Birley Park sub-divided into open green space, better recreation and the other half used for office development, housing companies
• EXAMPLE: Hulme City Partnership, Manchester ~ failures:

  1. 10 years on, 64% of residents were still in rented accommodation, area still poor
  2. Gentrification occurred, more affluent moved in, local people left if on lower income
  3. educational achievement 10 years on was still some of lowest in Manchester + children in poverty high
  4. Shopping area didn't feel finished as businesses and entertainment areas didn't arrive on time