Urban Regeneration Companies

Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) unite public and private sector partners to deliver sustainable regeneration and stimulate investment in towns and cities. They are independent companies established by the relevant local authority and Regional Development Agency (RDA).  The principal aim is to engage the private sector in a sustainable regeneration strategy, working within the context of a wider masterplan which takes full account of the problems and opportunities for the whole area.

There are currently four operating URCs in England:

• Gloucester Heritage
• New East Manchester
• North Northants Development Company
• Barrow Regeneration (formerly known as West Lakes Renaissance)

In recent years the concept of City Development Companies (CDCs) were promoted, which were subsequently rebranded Economic Development Companies (EDCs) to reflect the greater emphasis on driving economic growth and regeneration beyond urban centres, based around rural, coastal or sub-region settings, focusing on areas of deprivation.

A number of URCs changed their status to EDC or CDC following the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration in 2008, Sheffield was the first of its kind in the UK to change to CDC status.

 There are 10 CDC/EDCs:

• 1NG Newcastle Gateshead
• Creative Sheffield (formerly Sheffield One URC)
• Liverpool Vision
• Prospect Leicestershire (formerly Leicester Regeneration Company)
• Coast (formerly ReBlackpool)
• Tees Valley Unlimited (formerly Tees Valley Regeneration) 
• Forward Swindon (formerly The New Swindon Company)
• Opportunity Peterborough
• CPR EDC (formerly CPR Regeneration)
• Regenerate Pennine Lancashire

The HCA role

We have had a role in providing practical support and assistance for all URCs, EDCs and CDCs.

Our support and assistance has been provided in a number of ways, including:

• Helping them to deliver their strategic priorities by participating in joint venture agreements, making acquisitions for development schemes, acting as a catalyst for regeneration projects and encouraging private-sector investment.
• Working with new and emerging CDCs/EDCs to assist with their establishment and, where appropriate, providing support for master planning, running costs and research to help them deliver their strategic priorities.
• Providing best practice support and guidance, the organisation of training, workshops and conferences, disseminating information on the National Archive website and undertaking specific items of research. 

The future role played by the HCA will be determined by the government's evolving economic and regeneration agenda.