Exemplary Urban Practitioners in Neighbourhood Renewal: Survival of the Fittest… and the Fitting

Ton Van Der Pennen,Gerard Van Bortel

doi:10.1007/s11266-015-9600-4

Abstract

Often institutional solutions such as structures and organisations are seen as best practices in neighbourhood renewal. Using empirical case study data from the Netherlands and the UK, this paper demonstrates that there should be more attention for the role of individual urban practitioners. The relevance of this conclusion goes beyond the domain of neighbourhood regeneration alone. Due to the new government policy paradigms (e.g. Big Society/Participation Society), welfare reforms are introduced that combine severe austerity measures with more responsibilities for individual citizens and cross-sectorial partnerships between institutions. This post-crisis participation society calls for individuals that are able to ‘make a difference’ by bridging the gap between the systems of government agencies and other institutions, and the lifeworld of residents. But what are the characteristics and working methods of highly effective ‘exemplary urban practitioners’? This paper explores the characteristics of these practitioners by analysing empirical data from neighbourhood renewal case studies using Habermas system/lifeworld concept.

Highlights

Making a Difference in Neighbourhood RenewalSince the early 2000s, various area-based initiatives have been taken to address issues of concentrated social and economic deprivation and dysfunctional housing markets
What are the characteristics and working methods of highly effective ‘exemplary urban practitioners’? This paper explores the characteristics of these practitioners by analysing empirical data from neighbourhood renewal case studies using Habermas system/lifeworld concept
Recent results from the ‘Best Persons’ research project (Van den Brink et al 2012)1 deliver new insights into the characteristics and activities of these exemplary practitioners. What does it take, as an individual, to make a substantial difference in the regeneration of disadvantaged neighbourhoods? Answering this question is central to this paper, and is of great importance in an era where citizens are expected to become more actively involved in improving their community and exemplary practitioners are needed to bridge the divide between the systems of the state, profit and non-forprofit agencies and the lifeworld of citizens

Summary

Introduction

Recent results from the ‘Best Persons’ research project (Van den Brink et al 2012) deliver new insights into the characteristics and activities of these exemplary practitioners What does it take, as an individual, to make a substantial difference in the regeneration of disadvantaged neighbourhoods? The gap created, generates room for civil society initiatives and calls for more active citizenship and a shift from a government-led welfare regime towards a community-led participation society As part of the Localism agenda and Participation Society policy paradigm, national governments in the UK and the Netherlands, respectively, have expeditiously started with the implementation of important elements of their agenda by restructuring welfare state provision. This paper wants to contribute to increasing that body of knowledge

Research Methodology

Boundary Spanner

Conclusion