Future Stratford

Our Towns and Cities

In response to the report of the Urban Task Force, the Government published a White Paper setting out how it intended to tackle the state of our towns and cities. This was called: Our Towns and Cities, the Future, Delivering an Urban Renaissance:
http://www.urban.odpm.gov.uk/whitepaper/ourtowns/index.htm

The vision outlined in this Government paper was set out by the Deputy Prime Minister:

‘We want to see:

• people shaping the future of their community, supported by strong and truly representative local leaders;
• people living in attractive, well-kept towns and cities which use space and buildings well;
• good design and planning which makes it practical to live in a more environmentally sustainable way, with less noise, pollution and traffic congestion;
• towns and cities able to create and share prosperity, investing to help all their citizens reach their full potential; and
• good quality services – health, education, housing, transport, finance, shopping, leisure and protection from crime – that meet the needs of people and businesses wherever they are.

In order to deliver the urban renaissance, the Government proposes that:

"… we must co-ordinate our efforts at all levels: national, regional and local. Government has established the framework of policies and programmes. The Regional Development Agencies will have extra resources to support regional economic growth, and more flexibility in how they use them. Local people themselves must help decide how best to make their towns and cities the places they want them to be."

"Each town and city now needs to develop a vision for its future and plan how to achieve it. It should do this through a local strategic partnership involving the community, the council, service providers, voluntary groups, business leaders and consulting everybody with an interest at stake."

Find out more about regeneration: