This project aimed to improve the knowledge base of what works and what doesn't in Neighbourhood Renewal by researching local initiatives and developing case study examples for wider dissemination.

Project Outline

Despite the fact that nationally some neighbourhood renewal initiatives have been evaluated with a view to identifying what works and what doesn’t, there remains a recognised deficit of evidence in this respect. This means that the information base available for local decision making is weak. The Neighbourhood Renewal Team in Brighton were keen to improve the knowledge base by researching local initiatives and developing case study examples for wider dissemination. In turn this will support more evidence based decision making at both local and national levels.

The ALTogether programme provided an ideal vehicle for identifying a diverse range of neighbourhood renewal projects, driven by a range of stakeholders, within which new evidence of ‘what works’ for communities could be identified and disseminated. Such evidence relates to both policies and practices imposed from above and those originating at the grass roots. Previous research suggests that it is likely to challenge conventional indicators of progress.

A researcher was recruited by the Community Knowledge Exchange to work alongside the Neighbourhood Renewal Team to carry out this work.