Research & policy body Respublica has issued a report offering ‘A Modest Proposal for the Restoration of Neighbourhoods’.
Respublica writes:
For over half a century, billions have been spent on a revolving door of programmes aimed at fixing Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods, with little to no real change.
‘A Modest Proposal’ calls for a radical shift—moving beyond micro-interventions and civic management, toward a distributist approach that prioritises the community and place-based ownership of property, land, and productive assets.
The report follows the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) final report on neighbourhood renewal. While ICON’s work provides a valuable and comprehensive assessment of the scale of disadvantage facing communities — and sets out practical recommendations around funding, governance and long-term commitment — A Modest Proposal goes further in questioning the underlying economic model that has shaped regeneration policy for decades.
Key recommendations of the report include:
- Embed home ownership pathways within place-based funding
- Actively tilt the market in favour of small and local owners
- Support co-operative and community ownership institutions
- Protect emerging owners from excessive financial burdens
- Align cultural renewal with economic reform
See the report HERE.
