Feasibility study on the potential for the development of urban regeneration companies in London and the role of the LDA

In July 2001, LSE London and the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge responded to an invitation to tender issued by the London Development Agency (LDA) for a feasibility study on the potential for the development of urban regeneration companies in London and the role of the LDA. Research was carried out between August and November of 2001. The principal objectives of the project were to: Clarify the objectives, legal entity, powers, organisational structure, partnership and relationships and evidence of success with respect to the three pilot URCs in existence and three of the handful of emerging URCs; To assess whether the existing models of URCs could be effectively applied to the London context and to the specific areas identified; To bring together information about identified areas in London that might be regarded as appropriate for URC designation together with the views of key players in these areas; To develop a methodology for the selection of areas for URC designation. A final report was submitted to the LDA in November 2001, containing a suggested methodology and the preliminary application of the model to seven broad areas of London, selected in consultation with the LDA. Principal members of the team were Professor Christine Whitehead, Dr Andrew Thornley, Kath Scanlon and Dr Karen West, with additional input from Professor Malcolm Grant and Dr Peter Tyler, both of the University of Cambridge.