England’s overlooked neighbourhoods: Defining, understanding and regenerating ‘left behind’ communities

The term ‘left behind’ has become common currency since the 2016 UK referendum vote to leave the European Union (EU). It is often used to describe areas of the country that have missed out on the economic prosperity from which others have benefited. Generally, however, the term tends to be loosely defined and applied. This paper describes research which hazards a more precise definition and a mapping of areas that might be accurately referred to as ‘left behind’, acknowledging that the phenomenon has a social and cultural, as well as an economic dimension. The research described in this paper was commissioned by Local Trust from OCSI. A new Community Needs Index (CNI) was developed for the project. This new index identifies wards in England that lack civic infrastructure (places for people to meet, green space and recreational opportunities), connectivity — physical and digital — and community engagement. The 206 wards which the research identifies as perhaps the most ‘left behind’ are both in the top 10 per cent of this new CNI and in the bottom, or most deprived, 10 per cent of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). The research finds that ‘left behind’ wards are concentrated in post-industrial and coastal areas, often housing estates on the peripheries of towns and cities. The residents of these areas have markedly worse socio-economic outcomes compared to those living in similarly deprived areas; they have fewer job opportunities, lower levels of educational attainment and poorer health. The research indicates the multidimensional nature of the problems in these neighbourhoods and suggests the value and importance of civic infrastructure, connectivity and community engagement as a protective factor which helps to guard against them becoming too entrenched or severe. Our experience of delivering the Big Local programme, and our assessment of the evidence from past local area initiatives, is that flexible, community-led solutions which build community confidence and capacity, and which create connections to opportunities in the wider geographical area, are key to improving ‘left behind’ areas and the quality of life of the people living in them. We argue, based on the evidence, that new government investment in neighbourhood regeneration is urgently needed. This should take the form of long-term funding focused on building hard and soft civic assets. It is our view that only through this approach will sustainable positive change be created in the areas that most need it.