This project is a network of a number of cities led by Liverpool and with Nottingham as a partner.

The private sector is increasingly involved in regenerating cities, and in particular those run down areas that are most severely deprived / excluded. The role of the private sector is two fold – firstly to bring resource (both expertise & funding) but secondly to valorise the regeneration initiatives, attract investors and generate market confidence.

Experience shows that achieving a better social mix  and more functional diversity in cities, and especially in their most deprived areas, are fundamental preconditions for a successful urban regeneration - based on the assessment that a balanced urban development can only be achieved if every part of the city can (again) sustain a property market.

In this perspective the role of (small) pioneer investors appears to be crucial : the first comers play an important role in "prime pumping" urban regeneration. This is often the case of local companies and/or professionals for economic activities, and pioneer groups (or individuals) for the housing market. How to attract those investments is a very important issue for urban regeneration, since it can show community (or citizens) are confident in the future success of regeneration initiatives.

URBAN cities have been at the forefront of pioneering new ways of "partnering" with the private sector to bring about urban renewal and this project drew out best practice that can be of benefit to others, and some recommendations on policy and legislation implications that may help inform future decisions (EU, national, local) in this field.

The project ran from 2003-2006 and looked at:

• Different type/scale of PPP - national, regional, city, local/neighbourhood – and their impact at various levels of the city
• Structure of partnerships and the extent to which the partnership (and private sector involvement) should be/needs to be "formal"Impact of national policy/legislation and fiscal structures
• The need and means to recreate a viable local market in depressed areas Involvement of "pioneer investors" (visionary individuals/organisations) and "good citizens" (established companies who want to give something back to local community)
• Practical examples of how commercial elements (housing, retail) can cross fund/pump prime other actions
• Importance of balanced (re)development - functional diversity with social mix/balance
• The forthcoming Commission Green Paper on public private partnerships

For more information contact jem.woolley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

The Practitioners' Guide to PPP and other documentation from the project can be downloaded from the Partners4Action website.