Conservatives move focus towards regeneration

Mon 19 Apr 2010

The Conservative Party has said it wants regional development agencies (RDAs) to focus more heavily on regeneration.

According to a party spokesman, RDAs in England could be made more efficient and help to deliver more jobs.

Speaking to BBC News, the official said this could be achieved if local authorities work more closely with the business sector.

The resulting "local enterprise partnerships" could then focus their efforts on areas such as regeneration and economic development, the spokesman stated.

His comments came after Labour suggested that the Conservative Party wants to do away with RDAs if it wins the upcoming general election.

This comes amid growing calls for the regeneration of Stevenage town centre, an issue that has united the candidates from both Labour and the Conservatives, as well as the Liberal Democrats.

Labour candidate Sharon Taylor said a £250 million regeneration plan has been proposed, as the existing town centre is "very tired and dated".

Roger Fitton, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "Regeneration schemes require big labour forces and lead developers have extensive supply chains for materials and services so they are themselves major sources of employment and the regenerated area becomes a magnet for investment."