ABSTRACT
This chapter examines New Labour's brand of urban policy, in particular the refocusing of attention on urban economic competitiveness and urban social exclusion. It evaluates key policies and case study examples under the two parallel policy approaches of urban renaissance and neighbourhood renewal. An Urban White Paper commitment, the main themes identified and researched were demographics, economic competitiveness and performance, liveability, social cohesion and governance. From the early 2000s, sustainable communities policies linked to urban regeneration emerged to comprise a significant element of the overall agenda. Running parallel with urban renaissance approaches between 1997 and 2010 was an intensive programme of neighbourhood renewal. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Government spread matters relevant to urban regeneration across a number of areas of government transferred from the Westminster Parliament, including regional development and social development. From the early 2000s, sustainable communities policies linked to urban regeneration emerged to comprise a significant element of the overall agenda.
