Introduction
The Government’s £38 billion programme for change across the country - the Sustainable Communities agenda - involves more than just housing and regeneration, advocating an holistic approach to development - taking into consideration economic, social and cultural trends.
This Conference and Exhibition will examine the key issues of the day, and showcase the progress being achieved across the country.
The Background
In 2005, the Government launched its Five Year Plan for Building Sustainable Communities, with the publication of two documents - Sustainable Communities: Homes for All; and People, Places and Prosperity.
The Strategy incorporated two main principles: that more power should be given to the community; and the importance of ensuring that decision-making was undertaken at the most appropriate level in order to succeed.
Moreover, the Sustainable Communities agenda is underpinned by the Government’s Sustainable Development strategy outlined in 'Securing the Future', launched in conjunction with the strategic framework for delivery in March 2005. This aims to enable individuals worldwide to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.
With the publication of the Climate Change Bill, the Planning White Paper and Energy White Paper - following closely on the heels of the Local Government White Paper (October 2006) and The Carbon Challenge, the Sustainable Communities Summit 2007 comes at an opportune time to discover how these topics will effect future national regeneration projects and aid the Sustainable Communities agenda.
BURA - 'The British Urban Regeneration Association'
BURA is the trade association for the regeneration sector – aiming to represent the public, private and voluntary sectors and to cover issues ranging from economic development, physical regeneration, environmental regeneration (both built and green) and community capacity-building.
The activities include, principally: events, training, awards and research. In mid-2006, the organisation took the decision to build up BURA’s research and policy section and, already, commissions have been secured from the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Greater London Authority and the Commission for Racial Equality (as sub-contractor to Ipsos-MORI).
The organisation aims to foster the transfer of regeneration knowledge (notably around best practice) within the sector and also to represent the sector to policymakers, mainly at the national level.
BURA is keen to facilitate entry into the regeneration profession – through its Regenerator programme. The focus has been largely domestic thus far, although the first international conference was held last year and has this year hosted foreign regeneration practitioners on visits within the UK. More such international work is planned.
BURA relies for its income on a variety of means: membership fees; the Steering and Development Forum (18 organisations that serve as sounding board, consultation panel and research commissioner for BURA); events, training and research income.