What the UK can teach US cities
Author: Dermot FinchDate: 13/06/2008
Publication: BBC News Magazine
How to kick start an urban renaissance: lessons from this side of the pond
Gleaming skyscrapers, the land of opportunity, pursuit of the American Dream - many admire the United States' major cities and their dash of extra polish compared to their British neighbours across the water. In 2006 alone, over 30,000 Brits left UK shores to try their luck Stateside.
Leading Labour and Conservative figures regularly look to the likes of New York and Chicago to fix urban problems back home. The Tories' new welfare to work proposals were modelled on existing schemes in New York and Wisconsin. John Prescott and David Miliband both made ministerial study tours of the US a top priority.
But the reality behind the shining urban bastions of the American dream isn't always so rosy. When it comes to preventing urban sprawl and tackling congestion, UK cities are actually further ahead.
So what can UK cities - which have benefited from a decade of strong economic growth - teach their Atlantic neighbours?
Lesson one - How to tackle city centre traffic gridlock: Since Ken Livingstone, the previous mayor of London, brought in the congestion charge in 2003 (amidst a barrage of criticism and only reluctant support from the government), the volume of traffic entering the congestion charge zone has fallen by over a fifth - with bus use increasing by 15%. Meanwhile the £125 million extra cash generated by the charge (after its upkeep costs) goes straight back into public transport.
This week the Department for Transport announced its support of Manchester's own charge proposals -although until more of its critics are won around, the future of the charge continues to hang in the balance. Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and San Francisco are also currently looking to London's congestion charge to solve their traffic problems. The charge in London has its critics, particularly concerning the charge amount and the western extension and there are still problems with congestion, caused by road works in parts of the capital, but the fact that the charge survived the change in mayoralty is testimony to its success - and the likes of Seattle and San Francisco could learn from the charge's successes and limitations.
Lesson two - How to keep town and city centres alive: In 1996, the Conservative government took action to stop UK city and town centres and their high streets turning into ghost towns. Whilst not everyone supports recent city-centre redevelopments, by putting ‘town centres first' in the planning rules, successive governments have reduced the number of car-dependent shopping centres being built - and encouraged more shops and offices into city centres. As a result, total retail floor space in UK town and city centres increased from 25% in the mid 1990s to 34% in 2003/2004.
Lesson three - How to beat suburban sprawl: The Labour Government went on to take further steps to stop UK cities and towns ‘sprawling' like their American equivalents. Atlanta and Los Angeles have become known for the segregated neighbourhoods, lengthy commutes and gridlock that resulted from suburban sprawl. Reusing urban land where possible, rather than building on Greenfield sites has helped cities like Leeds and Bristol to avoid sprawling car-dependent suburbs proliferating. In 2000 the Government introduced a housing ‘density' target for new housing developments of 30-50 homes per hectare - where it's appropriate to do so. By 2006, new homes were being built at an average density of forty per hectare. The British experience suggests that American cities would benefit from a strong steer from the Federal government to make neighbourhoods denser and less dependent on private transport.
Lesson four - Giving cities the attention they deserve: The decline of British industry after the Second World War saw UK cities and towns riddled with social and economic deprivation, and largely neglected by central government. In recent years - starting with Michael Heseltine's city development initiatives under the Conservative Government, UK cities have basked in the attention of senior ministers. Tony Blair's Social Exclusion Unit, Gordon Brown's target to reduce child poverty and John Prescott's expert Urban Task Force attest to a concentrated effort to help cities improve after a lengthy period of economic and industrial decline.
Ex-industrial cities like Leeds and Sheffield have seen jobs growth of 15% and 25% respectively in a single decade. Who would have thought ten years ago, that Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, would be welcoming its two millionth visitor so far this year? That Newcastle would be hosting the Conservative Party's 2008 spring conference? There has been no equivalent high-profile championing of urban development and regeneration by the US Federal government in recent years. US cities have been missing out.
Of course, we can and should continue to learn from American cities. For one, US city mayors have more control over their own finances - meaning that they can innovate more and grow their economies as a result. Only 5% of all tax revenues are raised by local councils in England, compared to 41% in the States.
Policy learning can go both ways. A recent visit to London's new mayor by Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, and the promise to exchange expertise and personnel on London transport and crime reduction in the Bronx could signal an end to this one-way traffic.
UK Ministers have for too long gone cap in hand to the US for ideas on how to improve our cities. With cities and towns on both sides of the Atlantic now facing tougher economic times, isn't it time for our two nations' cities to share the best of both? As the US political parties gear up for the Democratic Convention in Denver and the Republican Convention in Minneapolis - the question is more relevant than ever.
A version of this article first appeared on BBC News Magazine.
