Neighbourhoods
Making it happen in neighbourhoods: The national strategy for neighbourhood renewal 4 years on
This publication examines the progress of the Neighbourhood Renewal strategy. It shows, through evidence, the progress made in neighbourhoods and sets out an overview of current policy and programme priorities.
Title: Making it happen in neighbourhoods: The national strategy for neighbourhood renewal 4 years on
Author: Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister
Date published: February 2005
Number of pages: 72
Availability: Download
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A New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal: National Strategy Action Plan was launched in January 2001. It set out the Government's clear vision that within 10 to 20 years nobody should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live.
The early impact of delivering renewal
On education
Learning skills and qualifications increase the chances of more employment opportunities, greater financial stability, better living conditions and better health.
The gap between the average pass rate for 5 'good' GCSEs in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) areas and the national average has narrowed.
The average pass rate in NRF areas is improving at a faster rate than for England as a whole.
The gap in achievement for numeracy and literacy levels for 11 year olds has also shrunk. In the case of maths, the difference between the two rates has reduced by over half.
Children, young people and adults in disadvantaged areas have been offered more opportunities to work, learn or train.
On employment
Employment in the 88 NRF districts has increased by 1.7 percentage points since 1997/1998 compared to 1.4 points nationally (half a million more people from deprived areas in jobs).
However, concentrations of unemployment persist in certain districts and among population groups, particularly people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities.
Since 2001, the employment rate of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities within the NRF areas has been growing faster than the overall employment rate in the same places.
228,000 more people from BME communities are now in work than in 2001/2002, 144,000 of them in the most deprived areas.
The employment rate gap between deprived areas and the rest of England has started to narrow and a number of initiatives are now in place to build on that success.
On crime
The overall gap between the average burglary rate for the 88 NRF districts and the England average fell by a fifth.
The 88 NRF district average burglary rate has dropped from a rate of 31.4 (per 1,000 households) in 1999/2000 to 26.7 in 2003/2004.
The robbery rates for England and the 88 districts have decreased over the last 2 years.
The vehicle crime rates for England fell from 20.3 for every 1,000 people in 1999/2000 to 17 in 2003/2004.
Most of the vehicle and burglary reductions came from high crime areas.
On health
Improvements are being made to people's health. Death rates cancer and cardiovascular (heart and lung) disease are reducing rapidly.
Both male and female life expectancy rates have increased across the country. However, figures for 2001-2003 show that the gap for males between the national average and the 88 NRF districts as a whole is almost static at 1.5 years.
The NHS has seen a huge increase in funding. It will spend over £250 billion over the next 3 financial years, with 80%of this going directly to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
Resources will also be allocated based on how deprived an area is.
Housing and preventing homelessness
By 2004 the number of non-decent homes was reduced by one million and £18 billion was invested in existing social homes.
Over 120,000 people living in private sector accommodation were helped to improve the quality of their homes.
The investment in managing and maintaining housing has increased by almost £360 for each property since 1997.
Choice for social tenants is also improving.
Liveability
A national champion for parks and public space was created - CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment).
The introduction of an Arson Control Forum has reduced the number of deliberate fires by nearly 30%.
Problems of abandoned cars and arson are being successfully tackled through local car clear schemes and arson task forces.
In 2003 the Sustainable Communities Plan announced £201 million to improve the urban environment. This includes a £30 million Living Spaces scheme.
Last update: 18 February 2005