With reference to one urban policy in Britain since 1979, evaluate its success in contributing to urban resurgence. - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 3 - 2022 - Paper 2

The New Deal for Communities (NDC), introduced in 1998, aimed to address deprivation in specific urban areas in Britain. This policy targeted communities with significant economic and social challenges and aimed to revitalize them through various initiatives.

One notable success of the NDC has been its focus on increasing community engagement and participation. By involving residents in the decision-making process, the policy fostered a sense of ownership over the initiatives taken in their areas. Evidence shows that neighborhoods that actively engaged with the NDC reported improvements in local amenities and services.

However, the evaluation of the policy also highlights some challenges. While the NDC led to physical improvements, such as the refurbishment of housing and public spaces, the sustainability of these changes often came into question. Many projects were dependent on external funding and faced difficulties in maintaining momentum once the funding ended.

Additionally, despite the NDC's objective to address poverty and inequality, the impact on economic regeneration was mixed. Some areas reported a rise in employment opportunities, while others continued to experience high levels of unemployment, indicating that the policy's effects were not uniform across all regions.

In conclusion, while the New Deal for Communities made significant strides towards increasing urban resurgence through community involvement and targeted interventions, the variability in outcomes points to the complexity of achieving lasting urban renewal in deprived areas.