MPs have warned the Government has no adequate strategy for regeneration of England's most deprived communities and are warning this failure is storing up major problems for the future.
The report on Regeneration by the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee is deeply scathing about the Government's indifference to regeneration.
The all-party committee says the Regeneration to Enable Growth report shows there is no clear strategy and is focused overwhelmingly on economic matters.
"The Government has cut public funding for regeneration programmes dramatically and has produced no adequate strategy for regeneration sufficient to tackle the deep-seated problems faced by our most deprived communities," said Committee chair Clive Betts.
"The Government's measures will not attract sufficient investment for renewal into those communities where the market has failed. There is no sign that the private sector is filling the gap as public resources are being withdrawn. Indeed private investment is only likely to be attracted in partnership with public funding. Without further investment targeted at those places most in need, ministers will store up serious social, economic and environmental problems for the future."
The MPs attacked the current planning reforms and said planning has actually brought significant benefits to regeneration through co-ordination, community involvement and town-centre first.
They quoted witnesses who supported brownfield-first, housing density and town-centre-first policies.
The Committee singled out the way the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders had been ended, with whole streets left boarded up and said resources are now needed to regenerate areas formerly scheduled for demolition.
A national regeneration strategy based on detailed understanding for what worked or failed in the past is needed, say the MPs.
They were also concerned at the loss of knowledge and skills prompted by regional development agency abolition etc. and recommended work on retention of them.
The Committee concluded there is a need to learn from past approaches and from mistakes, such as the Single Regeneration Budget where money was spread very thinly.
They say there is no "silver bullet" for regeneration and a multi-faceted approach is necessary.
They recommended an urgent review of regeneration programmes and noted the widespread support for City Challenge and said councils and their partners should be invited to submit ideas and the best taken forward as pathfinders.
