Underrated localism in urban regeneration: The case of Liverpool, a shrinking city

This paper considers central–local relationships in the UK’s response to processes of ‘shrinkage’ (depopulation) in its major cities during recent decades. Such policies have most frequently taken the form of urban regeneration initiatives. The paper discusses the concept of shrinking cities, and places the UK in a European and global context. It then outlines the literature that discusses the extent to which regeneration has, or has not, been associated with an increasing centralisation of power, before presenting a series of examples of institutional evolution in Liverpool over the past two decades. The paper concludes that, while many scholars argue that the UK has seen increased centralisation of urban regeneration policy, the case of Liverpool illustrates that local mobilisation has been a significant factor, and that the situation is therefore not quite as simple as often presented. In providing such illustrations, the paper aims to contribute to the understanding of central–local relations in this field of policy, as well as substantiate theoretical perspectives which point to the significance and potential contribution of local actors in the urban regeneration process. Such considerations are particularly timely following the announcement in the May 2010 Queen’s speech of the new UK Government’s plans for a localism and decentralisation bill.