A new neighbourhoods policy

Over the past decade, community spaces have been shuttered up. Pubs and libraries have closed. Youth services have been cut. Membership of trade unions and social clubs has dropped off. Local authorities have been forced to reduce funding for community services and facilities. They have been placed under increasing pressure to do more with less.

No one should be disadvantaged in terms of outcomes or opportunity on account of where they live. Research shows that previous neighbourhood regeneration programmes have failed to leave a lasting legacy because of a lack of genuine community control over decisions. It’s time to learn from this and let residents who know their neighbourhoods best lead on decisions that impact their local area.

Local Trust’s neighbourhoods manifesto calls on the next government to commit to improving the prospects of doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods – those that have the highest levels of deprivation and weakest social infrastructure. If the next government is to shift the dial, it needs to make a sustained commitment to the neighbourhoods most in need, providing agency and opportunity for residents to tackle the causes of deep-seated issues based on their unique local expertise, knowledge and networks.

You can also read Policy spotlight 2: Why the next government should focus on neighbourhoods to find out why we need a shift to policymaking with a neighbourhood lens.