Neighbourhood Renewal
The 88 most deprived areas were identified and allocated special funds to help. These are Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF), Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) and Community Chests.
A National Strategy Action Plan was launched by the Prime Minister on 15 January 2001 deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.
Within 10 to 20 years, no one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live.
The aim is to:
- Deliver economic prosperity;
- Safe communities;
- High quality education;
- Decent housing;
- Better health to the poorest parts of the country.
At national level, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) implements the Action Plan, which is part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The unit is responsible for driving progress across Government and is headed by Joe Montgomery, previously Executive Director of Regeneration for the London Borough of Lewisham.
At regional level, neighbourhood renewal teams have been set up in the nine government offices to provide a direct channel of communication from neighbourhood / community groups to the neighbourhood renewal unit and will act as:
- Facilitators to support the development of Local Strategic Partnerships;
- Mediators to resolve difficulties which may arise over the participation of Government agencies in Local Strategic Partnerships, and in the negotiation of partnership and plan rationalisation proposals;