The Institute for Government has published a paper investigating how the new powers granted to mayors can play a role in urban regeneration
Urban regeneration ranges from renewing town centres to making use of stagnant land, such as industrial regions, or even creating hubs for advanced manufacturing.
The government has granted new powers to mayors, in conjunction with planning reforms, and has made it clear that they will have an active and large role in this task. The Institute for Government’s report, Devolution and Urban Regeneration: How Can Metro Mayors Transform England’s Towns and Cities? has investigated the ways in which mayors of metropolitan areas (metro mayors) can perform this task.
The 12 metro mayors can already allocate funds
The funds can be allocated for projects led by local partners or to set a strategic direction for their region.
This can involve the creation of vehicles or methods for delivery, such as mayoral development corporations or joint ventures in the private sector.
The further powers for metro mayors, along with establishing new mayoralties in the country, can have a leading role in urban regeneration through six key recommendations:
- Design interventions that make best use of the full mayoral toolkit, including investment funds, joint ventures, development corporations and development zones.
- Set a clear long-term regeneration vision and convene a coalition of support for this among local stakeholders and investors.
- Use their mayoral mandate to promote key regeneration schemes to government and the private sector.
- Engage businesses and contractors early on both to identify risks and to secure wider opportunities of regeneration, such as high-skilled job creation.
- Align devolved powers over transport, skills, housing and the environment to secure the full benefits of regeneration efforts.
- Use mayoral development corporations to regenerate areas with complex land ownership patterns and those that need up front public investment to ‘crowd in’ the private sector.
Balfour Beatty supported the report
Nick Crossfield, CEO of Balfour Beatty’s UK Construction Services business, said: “We are delighted to have participated in this important research project, as Metro Mayors and Combined Authorities become increasingly pivotal in driving growth and regeneration across the UK. The construction and infrastructure industry will play a leading role in this, delivering the schemes and providing the expertise needed to transform regions into places where people want to live, work, and invest.
“In our experience, one of the best ways Metro Mayors can maximise the benefits of their investment in infrastructure is by involving contractors early in the process. This involvement allows us to provide vital input on buildability, deliverability, and efficiency. Taking a programmatic approach, by grouping together related schemes, can unlock further efficiencies and drive social value, ensuring that the full potential of these transformative projects is realised.”
Millie Mitchell, author of the report, said: “Urban regeneration will be pivotal to delivering economic growth, and metro mayors should lead the way. Our new report reveals the wide array of powers that mayors have to do this, demonstrating the importance of picking the right tool for the job, depending on the needs of a local area. With more support from government, mayors will be able to lead the way for transformative change.”
