These are interesting times for government social policy. The advent of Pride in Place has meant a renewed focus on intensive interventions across small geographical areas, over ten years. The approach has many similarities to the area based regeneration initiatives of the 1990s and 2000s, including the Single Regeneration Budget and, most particularly, the New Deal for Communities (or NDC, the New Labour programme on which Pride in Place is modelled).

In truth, of course, neighbourhoods never really went away - in the intervening period we have had the Localism Act and Assets of Community Value, the Community Organising programme, a host of community asset transfers and other community led initiatives, and the Big Local initiative, all of which to a greater or lesser extent have focused on community activity at a neighbourhood level. But the new national focus on neighbourhood-level renewal is both timely and welcome. 

This is why we are launching our new Neighbourhoods Hub. It has been designed as a single place for local authorities, neighbourhood boards and the communities they work with to dip into clear, grounded guidance as we move from policy into action. It brings together practical insight from colleagues who have advised on neighbourhood regeneration across the last 25 years, including those who were deeply involved in the NDC programme and the other initiatives mentioned above. 

There has never been a more important time to stay ahead of the latest updates, thinking, and neighbourhood experience. We're with you on the journey, and if we can be of any assistance, please get in touch.