Communities and Local Government
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- Cities and regions
- Regeneration
- English Partnerships
- Background
Background
English Partnerships was created in its current form in May 1999 by combining the Commission for the New Towns (CNT) with the national functions of the Urban Regeneration Agency (URA - previously known as English Partnerships). The regional staff and Land and Property programmes of the URA passed to the Regional Development Agencies on 1 April 1999 (July 2000 in the case of the London Development Agency).
The post-1999 English Partnerships currently consists of two legal entities/Non-Departmental Public Bodies, with the merger being an administrative merger. Its Annual Report therefore presents two sets of accounts.
The CNT was established under the provisions of the New Towns Act 1959 and came into being in October 1961. The Commission currently operates under the provisions of the New Towns Act 1981, as amended by the New Towns and Urban Development Corporations Act 1985, plus secondary legislation to enable transfer of residuary property rights and liabilities from Urban Development Corporations and Housing Action Trusts.
The CNT's purpose is to "take over and, with a view to its eventual disposal, to hold, manage and turn to account the property of development corporations transferred to it under this Act, and dispose of property so transferred and any other property held by it, due regard being had to the convenience and welfare of persons residing, working or carrying on business there, and until disposal, the maintenance and enhancement of the value of the land held and the return obtained from it".
The URA (previously known as "English Partnerships") was established under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. It came into existence and took over City Grant from the DoE on 10 November 1993, following Parliamentary approval of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (Commencement and Transitional Provisions No 3) Order 1993. The Agency became fully operational on 1 April 1994 when it took over Derelict Land Grant and English Estates.
With wide-ranging powers the aim of the URA is to promote the regeneration of areas of need through the reclamation, development or redevelopment of land and buildings, with due regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
English Partnerships' remit
Following a fundamental review of its activity between October 2001 and July 2002 English Partnerships was confirmed as the national regeneration agency and one of the key delivery vehicles for the 'sustainable communities' agenda.
EP's current role involves more proactive responsibility for delivering the urban renaissance, providing specialist advice on brownfield land while also ensuring that surplus Government land is used to support wider government objectives.
EP's role as a key deliverer was restated in Sustainable Communities: building for the future published in February 2003. More details about EP's operations can be found ontheirwebsite at http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
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State of the cities
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