Youth involvement in urban regeneration: hard lessons, future directions

Abstract

English This article reviews the nature and effectiveness of youth involvement in urban regeneration. Drawing on the findings of a substantial UK-wide study, it highlights the limited achievements of youth participation in urban regeneration thus far and the profound difficulties involved in promoting youth empowerment. However, it argues that there are important lessons to be learned about the future direction of youth participation in urban regeneration from the early ‘pioneers’ of involvement strategies. Moreover, it contends that youth participation projects offer opportunities to promote local social cohesion, and that the experience derived from these initiatives can contribute to debates on young people and democratic renewal.