ABSTRACT
Land owners, usually local authorities, and their developer partners have been insufficiently transparent about the financial viability of regeneration proposals and this has led to understandable suspicion on the part of residents. Regenerating run-down housing estates is one of the most challenging areas of work for architects, but also one of the most rewarding. It brings together a range of professions, landowners and developers, working closely with communities to solve complex and wide-ranging problems. Good estate regeneration puts existing residents, working with landowners, at the heart of decision-making. The total cost of sustaining the estate in its existing condition should be used as a baseline ‘do-nothing’ calculation, to make the case for change. Much has changed since the early days of estate regeneration. In areas where there is strong housing demand and relatively high land values, densities are increasing to generate value to subsidise affordable housing and other Section 106 planning obligations.
