From renaissance to recession: maintaining urban quality

Drawing on evidence and experience from the UK, I present the case that quality counts in times of recession as well as times of renaissance. My brief foray into changing UK regeneration practice is intended to highlight some important lessons applicable in other development contexts, including parts of Australasia. Commencing with a swift review of the UK’s urban renaissance agenda since New Labour came into power in 1997, I go onto examine the changing nature of renaissance programmes brought about by the infamous ‘credit crunch’; questioning the wisdom of cuts in urban quality.