The housing market renewal (HMR) programme was established to tackle the problems of neighbourhoods with acute low housing demand in the North of England and the West Midlands.
The HMR programme established sub-regional partnerships or ‘pathfinders’ covering 12 areas where low-demand properties, the loss of population and the inability to attract new households had created neighbourhood decline and deprivation. 1,100 new homes have been built, and 40,000 homes – many of which have local historic interest – have been refurbished.
Five years into the programme, £1.2 billion of government funding has been invested and a further £1 billion will be spent over the next three years, to 2010/11.
Now the Action plan for delivering successful places has been drawn up by CABE, English Heritage and the Sustainable Development Commission, to plan ahead. It looks at the successes and failures of the programme so far, highlights achievements and suggests new directions.
It proposes a shift in the agenda away from housing, and towards a broad-based, design-led regeneration programme, with placemaking at its heart.
The market downturn means that design quality now matters more than ever. Housing needs to be innovative if it is going to sell in places where demand is low. Innovation does not mean green gadgetry, but quality of place, and finding the best ways to preserve heritage.
Quality across the pathfinder areas has varied hugely but some places have already been transformed by good design. Progress made so far, however, may not continue if public authorities lose their nerve with the market downturn, and allow developers to use the pressures as an excuse for poor design. The release of public funding has to be linked to achieving high-quality places.
The action plan explores what is required in terms of placemaking and design; heritage, community and environment; and funding and delivery. It includes specific pledges of support from government agencies.
Pathfinders have particularly welcomed the recommendation that the government consider longer-term funding settlements, and allow more flexibility in the use of HMR funds for non-housing measures, such as improvements to the public realm.
