Mechanisms by which area-based regeneration programmes might impact on community health: a case study of the new deal for communities initiative

Abstract

Study objective. To explore mechanisms by which area-based regeneration initiatives may impact on health. Design. Case study of the New Deal for Communities programme, part of the UK National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. Main results. Health impacts may result from three mechanisms: sociospatial stigma, community participation and the commissioning of projects designed to change the distribution of determinants of health, including access to services and healthy lifestyles. Conclusions. The present UK National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal includes improving health status as one of its key outcome measures. Area-based regeneration schemes such as the New Deal for Communities initiative should, intuitively, bring about health gain through their participatory approach to changing the physical and socio-economic environments. At present, however, the direction and magnitudes of these impacts are not clear.