Forgotten voices? The importance of longitudinal evaluation of urban regeneration projects

Abstract

This paper argues the case for a longer-term evaluative process following the implementation period of a regeneration project. In order to understand fully the social, economic and environmental impacts and to ensure that local residents' voices are heard, lessons learnt and best practice shared, it is argued that any evaluation carried out in the months immediately after a project is wound up is likely to be insufficient, unbalanced and skewed towards the needs of the agencies involved in the regeneration activity, rather than provide data to demonstrate 'satisfaction'. Building in an evaluation phase five to ten years after the completion of a project is likely to provide more 'telling' results of the longer-term successes of the programme, issues arising and more substantive insights into residents' perceptions.