Abstract
This study explored the issues of regeneration and sustainable development, and identified evaluation and impact assessment as an important part of successful project delivery.
It identified sustainable development as a process which considers its environmental, economic and social aspects as elements in equilibrium within a system, and urban regeneration as the process which seeks to reverse urban decline in an area. It defined three main groups of stakeholders within urban regeneration with varying degrees of involvement with an intervention, as well as a variety of interests.
The research went on to examine evaluation and impact assessment within regeneration delivery, and undertook a critical analysis of criteria and techniques used in assessing regeneration and sustainable development as well as delivery in the North West of England.
Based on a pragmatist philosophical stance, the study utilised a unique blend of methodologies in order to investigate current practice as well as identify good practice from other sectors. Working with four case study organisations, it developed improvements to existing methods of evaluating regeneration delivery.
The study identified key challenges within the evaluation of regeneration delivery, and developed improvements to practice based on five critical success factors which are:
• Organisational Culture and Commitment • Clear Strategy • Methodological Pluralism • Communication and Stakeholder Involvement • Action on Findings Finally the research outlined the Objectives based EvaluAction framework to inform the evaluation within urban regeneration.