The Effectiveness Of Urban Renewal Strategies In

The Effectiveness Of Urban Renewal Strategies In The Sydenham Road Area Of Sparkbrook Essay, Research Paper Identification of a QuestionSparkbrook is a typical inner city area of Birmingham; predominantly Victorian and Edwardian in character and its multi-cultural society live in a deprived district suffering from high unemployment and a generally poor quality environment. For such reasons it is part of a ?regeneration? scheme and this investigation will assess the success of this scheme. Development of StrategyThe aim of the urban renewal programme is; to create sustainable structures of economic regeneration, to encourage business development and diversification, and to find solutions to serious social problems caused by the crisis situations that are common in many

depressed urban areas. In order to assess the effectiveness of such plans both secondary ? 1981 census detail, ward information and web sites, and primary data were collected. Unemployment levels, annual earning figures and the number of people that are employed in professional or managerial jobs are all great measures of the economical aspects. A marked positive alteration in these figures would indicate a success in the regeneration programme. Social aspects can be measured by reviewing crime rates, car ownership, private amenities and the property ownership – private or rented. The amount of pollution in the area, the aesthetic appreciation and housing density are all good measures of environmental aspects. Together the analysis of these three aspects and how they have

altered since the programme has been introduced, should highlight the areas of success and failure thus showing the effectiveness of the scheme. Collection of DataThe area of regeneration has undergone several changes in the past few years. For example a modern fitness centre had to be closed, as it was no longer financially viable, this is evidence that the local area is non-affluent as the people are unable to sustain a gym. In 1993 the aesthetic value of the area was heightened when the canal walk was opened. The linear areas along the canal are now going to be protected and enhanced. This is of great importance because the heavily built up character of Sparkbrook results in little space for recreational areas. A high percentage of the shops in Sparkbrook are closed and as the

money available for housing improvements is strictly residential the shops that are present appear worn and in need of repair. The area also suffers from serious traffic congestion and so parking bays have been created along Fallows road, however the traffic still accumulates and when the stretch of road is clear it could encourage speeding as it is a stereotypical ?rat run?. A fair amount of the housing has benefited from the government grants and sections of the terraces are fitted with new windows, roofs and doors. However, there are still houses remaining that require attention just as much as the ones that have received it, but for reasons such as inaccessible landlords the work has not been carried out. Analysis, Evaluation and Interpretation Comparing the recent census

with the previous one shows little alteration in unemployment levels, which are considerably above the city average and in the early 1908s and 1990s there was a mass recession which lead to the decline in industrial activity within Sparkbrook. Likewise car ownership is much lower than the city average. Such results may indicate that any new businesses in the area employ people from outside Sparkbrook. This could be because the locals are not suitably skilled for the available jobs or there are language barriers and there are no facilities to learn. If the local people are not unhappy with the current living conditions they are unlikely to aid the regeneration programme. Some people go as far as saying that it is ruination that is being carried out and not regeneration. The