Speakers:

• Patricia Brown, Central London Partnership
• Barra MacRuairi, Yorkshire Forward
• Steve MacAdam, Fluid
• Sophia de Sousa, The Glass House project

The Urban Regeneration Toolbox is a new guide for practitioners, policymakers, developers, investors, advisors – and anyone with an interest in urban regeneration.

Dermot Finch, Director of the Centre for Cities, was a panelist at this launch event.

The Toolbox contains 80 essays from leading players in regeneration, with the opinions and profiles of another 50. It reports and analyses some of the problems that are slowing down the process of Britain's urban renewal and provides a guide to policy and detailed technical issues. It seeks, cross-party ground for future policies which transcend the political timescale and reflects the longer term timescale of regeneration.

Key issues raised by Toolbox contributors include lack of resources for regeneration and lack of autonomy for local authorities to tackle infrastructure renewal despite the willingness of the investment community to engage in regeneration if the opportunities are presented in the right way. There remains also a big “culture gap” between public and private sector. A “window of opportunity” exists for the private and public sector to form new sorts of partnerships and get to grips with the problems former industrial areas face.

Published by CMP Information and Battle Associates, the Toolbox has been monitored by an editorial board and sponsored by leading players and professional bodies. The project was originally conceived by Tim Battle of conference and award organiser Battle Associates with Helen Gordon of Legal & General, one of the country's leading institutional real estate investors. It has been edited by Lee Mallett, regeneration and communications consultant, former editor of Building Design and Estates Times magazines and it comes in a boxed set of five books:

Book 1 includes a “Hall of Fame” in regeneration and a “Soapbox” featuring opinions from leading regeneration figures and includes Lord Rogers' introduction.

Book 2 looks at how regeneration policy has developed in the UK, sustainability, partnership between public and private sectors and the need for better civic leadership.

Book 3 examines issues in the public interest: the public realm, design, planning and community participation in the process.

Book 4 explores the “Developer's Equation” and sources of funding and their application to regeneration.

Book 5 tackles delivery – legal issues, “Big Stuff” such as land remediation, infrastructure and project management, and the need for leadership.

More details of the Toolbox's contents, sponsors and editorial board, and its availability can be found at www.theurt.com.