Abstract

If Bradford is to successfully challenge the impacts of the current recession on social cohesion and changing regeneration priorities, a robust evidence base is needed to support policy guidance. With the recent slow down in new housing development and affordable housing, reduced subsidies from property developers, difficulties in delivering s106 agreements on infrastructure, and cuts in public sector spending the regeneration plans for Bradford City have been reviewed and amended. There is a risk that there will be pressures to approve poor quality schemes with short-term benefits, but reduced long-term benefits such as social cohesion.
The main aim of the research is to provide practical support to the city and people of Bradford by identifying evidence-based policy recommendations which help to strengthen community relationships and cohesion in Bradford during and after the current recession, focusing on the longer-term social implications of recession. Whilst the physical quality of a neighbourhood and social cohesion are inextricably interwoven, the extent to which this relationship is particularly affected in Bradford during the recession is unknown. Once this relationship is understood, there needs to be guidance for practitioners to translate and implement the evidence to urban development projects. This needs to be addressed as a step change in current knowledge, practice and policy development.