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Poverty, power and policy dilemmas: Lessons from the community empowerment programme in England
Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal,
4
(3),
207-217
(2011)
Abstract
This paper tells the story of the community empowerment programme in England between 2001 and 2008, and identifies the lessons for the future. The authors argue that the original ambition of the programme, to empower communities to become equal partners in the task of neighbourhood renewal, was undermined by inconsistent central government policy and opposition from local authorities. The programme did pioneer and promote new participative methods however, which are increasingly commonplace. Future empowerment policies need to be made available to the most deprived communities.
Keywords: Empowerment; communities; local government; participation; representation
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
John P. Houghton is a freelance consultant in the fields of economic development and urban regeneration. Over the past 22 years he has worked in the public, private and academic sectors. He has developed, delivered and evaluated place-making and renewal plans and strategies at neighbourhood, city and regional level, including seaside and coastal areas. Until recently he advised the UK government on how to attract large-scale institutional investment into regeneration and infrastructure projects.
