Past recessions: What are the lessons for regeneration in the future?

Although every recession is different, there are still opportunities to learn lessons from the past when devising a new model for regeneration. Section one sets out that analysis of regeneration initiatives undertaken over the past 30 years enables lessons to be learned about which regeneration initiatives worked in the past, and in which circumstances, the choices that were made, and the trade-offs that are likely to be required for successful regeneration. As part of The Northern Way’s Regeneration Momentum research programme, this paper compares past approaches to regeneration focusing on the northern regions. Considering the different economic and political contexts, we seek to identify what lessons can be learnt from past regeneration initiatives.