** NEW INQUIRY LAUNCHED **

CREATING LONG LASTING JOBS THROUGH REGENERATION 

CALL FOR WRITTEN EVIDENCE

DEADLINE: 13 October 2008 (to f.shaheen@centreforcities.org) 

PURPOSE

The purpose of the All Party Urban Development Group’s fifth inquiry is to examine how key private sector players in regeneration – especially developers, construction companies and property occupiers – can work with city leaders, RDAs and others to ensure the long term benefits of training and job opportunities for inner city residents.

THE INQUIRY

The inquiry session will take evidence from property developers, business occupiers, and key public sector players, such as local authorities, RDAs or Sector Skills Councils. Several themes to be examined include:

·        Meeting employer demand   

·        Apprenticeships

·        Training

TO VIEW THE FULL CALL FOR EVIDENCE, CLICK HERE. 

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About the group

The All Party Parliamentary Urban Development Group (UDG) is a dynamic non-partisan Parliamentary body of MPs and Peers committed to progressing urban renewal and sustainable development in the UK.

The group was formed to raise the profile and understanding within Parliament of the urban regeneration process and the role that can be played by the private sector, particularly the property investment community.

The group's remit is to take a holistic approach in the examination of all the constituent elements that bring about truly sustainable communities, and to review policies that will increase the quality and pace of urban renewal and sustainable development nationally.  

Work programme

The group aims to examine the funding mechanisms, governance structures, and planning policies that are best suited to empower the public and private sectors to work more efficiently in partnership to deliver growth and renewal.

A series of inquiries and meetings is planned on a wide range of issues including:

·    delivering private sector funding for infrastructure provision;

·    incentivising urban regeneration in deprived areas;

·    attracting institutional investment to increase the supply of affordable housing;

·    promoting environmental sustainability in the built environment; and

·    identifying barriers and bureaucracy within the planning system to strengthen recent reforms.

For further information see 'Issues and objectives'.

Expert stakeholders

The UDG draws on the expertise of practitioners from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors who are leading regeneration initiatives and development projects across the country. Learning from these experts the group will better understand what is happening on the ground and therefore identify the areas that would benefit from reform.

Secretariat

The British Property Federation (BPF) has been registered by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to provide secretariat services for the group in partnership with the urban policy think tank Centre for Cities, which conducts independent research for the group's inquiry sessions.

The BPF represents the UK 'property industry' and has a membership of over 400 companies that own, develop, and invest in property. The BPF promotes the industry's ability to deliver regeneration, sustainable development, environmental efficiency, and property's role as an asset class. For more info go to: www.bpf.org.uk 

The Centre for Cities is an independent research unit. It is taking a fresh look at how UK cities work, with a strong focus on the economic drivers behind urban growth and change. The Centre has established a strong track record on urban policy issues such as economic performance, housing, leadership, enterprise, skills and investment. For more information go to:www.centreforcities.org

The Centre for Cities and BPF are committed to providing independent impartial support to the All Party Urban Development Group. All assistance, both financial and intellectual, is fully transparent and reported to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The BPF and Centre for Cities have pledged to abide by a strict code of conduct that has been signed by the group's officers.