The regeneration of Liverpool: Connections and disconnections in a ‘joined-up’ environment

Large areas of Liverpool have been undergoing regeneration in response to the city’s ongoing social and economic challenges. Within New Labour’s focus on ‘joined-up’ regeneration, this process has involved the use of a large number of single-purpose agencies, as well as other public, private and voluntary sector representatives. All of these organizations are then supposed to coordinate with each other, ensuring that there are no gaps or absences in the regeneration process. However, there are multiple issues that may affect the ability of organizations or spaces within the city to connect with each other. The research will focus on where connections and disconnections appear in the process, and explore the reasons for their occurrence. Regeneration is not a neutral activity; it is spatially and strategically selective, meaning that it may not be possible to coordinate all of the different regeneration projects, or neighbourhoods within a city. Priorities for regeneration are set at different levels, from national down to the local level, creating a structured and strategic context, meaning that some connections will be privileged over others. Regeneration is also implemented on many different scales, increasing the complexity of the process of ‘joining-up’. This article will present some initial results of research completed in Liverpool, examining the different strategies and complexities that are found within the regeneration process. The research will aim to open up issues around the complexity of coordinating different regeneration programmes and networks of urban policy. This will allow for an exploration of the debate around connections and disconnections that are created in ‘joined-up’ regeneration and also the political rationality of joining-up and its implementation in regeneration practice.