Delivering Your Regeneration Plans: Key Considerations for Local Authorities

Under Pressure to Deliver Regeneration Plans?

Are you in the best place to facilitate change in your area? The pressure is mounting on local authorities to turn regeneration ambitions into tangible outcomes. Whether you're revitalising a town centre, unlocking housing growth, or reimagining public spaces, the journey from vision to delivery is complex and often fraught with challenges. However, by asking the right questions and aligning your organisation around a shared purpose, you can significantly improve your chances of success.

Drawing on decades of experience in place-making and economic development, Bill Cotton shared key considerations that every local authority should reflect on when delivering regeneration plans.

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1. Investment: Making the Case and Securing Support

One of the first hurdles is attracting the right investment. This begins with a compelling, evidence-based proposition.

• Have you articulated the opportunity clearly? Investors need more than ambition—they need data. Present your case with robust facts, figures, and forecasts.

• Do you know your audience? Tailor your pitch to the expectations of different investor types—whether institutional, private, or public sector.

• Are your public sector funding relationships strong? Engage early and often with funding partners. Make sure they understand your local context and the innovative approaches you may need to adopt.

• Is your council’s investment secure? A sound business case, formal approvals, and appropriate delegations are essential to move at pace when opportunities arise.

2. Planning: A Critical Milestone

Planning permission is often a pivotal moment in any regeneration journey. It can unlock funding, galvanise partners, and signal momentum.

• Are your planning teams well-resourced and confident? Understaffed or overstretched planning departments can become bottlenecks. Invest in their capacity and professional development.

• Is there alignment across departments? Planning, legal, housing, and economic development teams must work in concert to avoid delays and miscommunication.

3. Narrative: What’s the Story You’re Telling?

People invest in stories as much as they do in places. A strong narrative can unite stakeholders, attract media attention, and build public support.

• Have you crafted a clear and inspiring vision? Your narrative should explain not just what you’re doing, but why it matters.

• Is it inclusive? Invite others—residents, businesses, institutions—to contribute their own chapters to the story.

• Are your anchor institutions on board? Universities, hospitals, and major employers can be powerful allies. Their investment decisions can reinforce your strategy and boost credibility.

4. Confidence and Visibility: Creating a Buzz

Regeneration is as much about perception as it is about construction. Small, visible changes can build momentum and attract further investment.

• Can you smarten up the area? Public realm improvements, meanwhile uses, and pop-up events can signal change and generate excitement.

• Do you have a Business Improvement District (BID)? If so, are you supporting their efforts effectively? If not, is there potential to establish one?

• Are you engaging the community? People are more likely to support and invest in change they understand and feel part of.

5. Community Engagement: Building Trust and Ownership

Regeneration should not be something done to a community—it should be done with them.

• Do you have mechanisms for meaningful engagement? Go beyond statutory consultation. Use workshops, digital platforms, and local champions to gather input and build trust.

• Are you transparent about trade-offs? Not every decision will be popular, but honesty and openness can go a long way in maintaining support.

6. People: The Right Team for the Job

Delivery depends on people—those with the time, confidence, and experience to drive complex projects forward.

• Do you have the right skills in-house? Regeneration requires a blend of technical, commercial, and interpersonal skills. Where gaps exist, consider secondments, partnerships, or external support.

• Are your officers empowered? Clear delegations and political backing enable officers to act decisively and maintain momentum.

• Is there continuity? Staff turnover can derail progress. Invest in succession planning and knowledge transfer.

7. Organisation: Aligning for Delivery

Even the best plans can falter without the right organisational structures.

• Do you have a clear programme management approach? Use tools like Gantt charts, risk registers, and delivery dashboards to track progress and stay on course.

• Is governance robust and inclusive? Ensure that decision-making structures are transparent, accountable, and involve the right mix of stakeholders.

• Is your corporate approach aligned? Regeneration is not just a planning or economic development issue—it touches housing, transport, health, and more. Break down silos and foster cross-departmental collaboration.

Final Thoughts: Are You Ready to Deliver?

If any of these questions have given you pause for thought, you’re not alone. Regeneration is a long game, and success depends on preparation, partnership, and persistence.

As Bill Cotton puts it:

“You can’t always force the pace of change, but you can get yourself in the best possible position to respond when the moment comes.”

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to accelerate delivery, now is the time to reflect, recalibrate, and re-energise your approach.

About the author.

Bill Cotton is a highly respected Director, Place-maker, Strategic Planner, and Economic Development Specialist. With decades of experience in local government leadership, he has served as the Corporate Director of Environment and Place at Oxfordshire County Council and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Economy at BCP Council. His expertise in regeneration, economic development, and strategic planning has made him a thought leader in the field, and his insights are invaluable for local authorities aiming to deliver successful regeneration plans.