ABSTRACT

The management of cities and regeneration activity is driven by a need to manage effectively a complex range of factors, which are made increasingly complex by the policy framework. Complexity is seen by many as a problem, a barrier, a hindrance to more effective working. In short it’s a negative. Complexity on the ground is commonly expressed in a sense that there are too many partnerships and meetings, many and competing views on the way forward and too many targets and difficulties in proving the real quality worth of activity. Thus, it is argued that because of this complexity, there is not enough ‘doing’ and not enough effective delivery. However, on the other hand it is important to recognize that this complexity is not going to disappear and in many respects is just the ‘way of the regeneration world’, and a necessary feature of good governance and effective interventions.