Heart of Hackney Regeneration Project - Report Example

An Evaluation Scheme for the Heart of Hackney Regeneration Project Introduction The Heart of Hackney Regeneration Project is seen as an integral partof the 2010 Summer Olympics. The Hackney Council has acknowledged its role as an Olympic host borough aside from being a City fringe borough. The Council, despite enormous criticism for being a liability on the development of Hackney, claimed that the borough will be experiencing “significant growth over the next 15 years,” (Hackney, 2010, P 1). The Hackney Council proposed the Economic Development Strategy or EDS as its main support for the borough development to bring about “prosperity for local people,” (Hackney 2010, P 2). In a recent (report provided) study, the regeneration project had identified three impediments to growth as follows: poor transport access, Hackney Council’s reputation for poor service delivery, and the fear of crime. The Council, however, has tried to address the issues through the EDS. It countered that the economic regeneration will be brought about by the Olympics which shall be held at the East London and the Thames Gateway covering Hackney. Hackney becomes a prime business location targeting a low carbon economy and innovative high value manufacturing (Hackney, 2010). It also believed that the developments in the housing stock, schools and public realm make Hackney an attractive location to live in, visit and work at. This paper will proceed to provide an evaluation scheme for the Heart of Hackney regeneration project. Discussion   Project’s objectives The Heart of Hackney regeneration project is a major undertaking not only for the borough but as a national initiative to address urban degradation. The 2012 Summer Olympics became a good excuse to prioritize East London as problems about urban sprawl become international in significance due to global warming and growing integration of cultures. In addressing the objectives and implicit theory of change by the Heart of hackney regeneration project, it is imperative to dig through its economic goals, the underlying factor for all growth aspirations. In the consultation draft (Hackney, 2010), the Hackney Council set the Economic Development Strategy. It acknowledged the opportunity that the borough has at the moment which it also needs to seize in order to fit as “an engine for London’s renewed economic growth,” (Hackney 2010, p 2). In general, the EDS objective is to help shape the local economic direction in order to provide long-term prosperity for the residents. The Council acknowledged that despite the recent employment growth in Hackney placing it just one percent below the London average did not spell the ideal as the borough still is considered the second most deprived in England due to long-term unemployment. Specifically, the program is currently focused on its Ways into Work program. A mentioned in the report, Hackney is providing interventions to out-of-school youths and unemployed individuals in the form of volunteerism, training, temporary employment, and other means to transfer work skills and knowledge. The 2012 Olympics has been a best venue to exercise all these as activities are on the rise. On paper and policy discussion, the EDS with Sustainable Community Strategy, is on the right direction, perhaps, more ideal than what the Council could ever actually implement. To meet the goal, guiding principles and has broken down its goals and objectives as follows: Strategic goals: 1) Achieve employment growth in local businesses, particularly in growth sectors 2) Increase new businesses starting up, particularly in growth sectors 3) Increase proportion of Hackney residents with higher qualifications 4) Increase proportion of Hackney residents in employment, particularly in neighbourhoods with the highest proportion of residents on out of work benefits. 5) Ensure Hackney is a place where people want to live, work, visit and invest in 6) Enable Hackney residents to access new opportunities created by sub-regional economic growth, particularly the Olympics and its legacy (Hackney 2010, p 4). Likewise, the Council also posted its objectives as follows: Objectives 1) Support new and existing businesses to remain competitive and grow 2) Ensure council services support the growth of local businesses 3) Attract inward investors and visitors into the borough 4) Increase the number of hard-to-reach groups registered on employment programmes 5) Increase the number of people helped into sustained employment in growth sectors via jobs brokerages 6) Improve attainment levels in schools and progression to further and higher education 7) Make transport facilities more accessible to Hackney residents facing greatest barriers to employment (Hackney 2010, p 4). Weiss (1972) has proposed the theory of change as change resulting from a program’s strategies and actions. It emphasises the importance of the contribution of individuals, groups, and social or systemic change and how their actions results in positive outcomes. The Heart of Hackney regeneration project hopes to achieve not only economic goals but also improved community living and standards of quality of life for residents and businesses. Constructing the baseline profile The baseline profile shall take into consideration the existing Heart of Hackney economic and socio-cultural condition, local and national government goals, funded projects that are on-going and projects or goals expected to be accomplished in a specific timeline, which is 15 years as mentioned by the Council. Outputs and outcomes measured Outputs are the actual measurable products of a process or action. Outputs shall include short-term and actual results of every program or project such as the Ways into Work program. It should consider the actual unemployed amongst the employable age, target trainees and volunteers as well as target number of employees, and actual trainees, volunteers and individuals employed from the targeted unemployed. Outcomes are tangible and intangible achievements that may be measured qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitatively means that even in manners of self-employment or becoming productive among themselves, trainees and volunteers not only become employed full and in long-term but also able to gain skills that make them productive in a long-term basis. Appropriate performance indicators Performance indicators shall include: Percentage growth of employed from the un-employed on covered period (please state when to start) Percentage growth of decent housing provided from start of period (please state when to start) until its end Percentage growth of homelessness Percentage growth of crime rate / activities Percentage growth of improvement of quality of life - community and residential safety - maintenance of good health - presence or absence of social problems and issues such as discrimination - improvement of community and individual relations Percentage growth of business operations and investment Percentage growth of arts and culture activities, events and participation. Process objectives measured The process objectives Decreased or eliminated homelessness Decreased or minimised unemployment Improved health of individuals in the community (this may not only mean increased average lifespan but increased physical and social quality of life) Improved social indicators and activities Improved quality of life of residents in economic and social ways These process objectives may be measured through the actual rates of growth from start period to end period against target goals. In this manner, actual performance will be reflected with clear understanding that targets are being pursued. Appropriate contextual factors Appropriate contextual factors that are necessary in the achievement of goals for the Heart of Hackney regeneration project include the following: Mandatory transparency of Council transactions Greater involvement of non-government organizations and community members in the planning, implementation and decision-making processes Inter-agency monitoring and evaluation involving Council, independent non-government group, and independent individual residents Deadweight, displacement, and substitution effects The most likely deadweight of the regeneration project is identified by the case study already presented: poor transport access, Hackney Council’s reputation for poor service delivery, and the crime. The improvement of the transport system of Hackney requires major changes that cannot be easily implemented and it would cost much more than already planned or presented for the 2012 Olympics. In reality, the 2012 committee has included transport problems of the area in their development plans and on their way to meet goals. After the Olympics, it is expected that the Heart of Hackney would already have improved transport access. Measurement of development in transport access can be applied after transport developments for 2012 were laid and after the 2012 Olympics. It will indicate improved access and mobility of residents. The Hackney Council has been under fire for achieving very low rates from national government audit as well as perceptions of residents. Their negative performance will serve as another deadweight and measurement of their performance will be an actualisation and realisation of all their laid out goals and objectives as well as approval rating of the community residents. Displacement and substitution effects are a major issue in the 2012 Olympics. Hackney residents, businesses, natural and manmade or built environments are removed, relocated and replaced to accommodate the Olympic village (London Development Agency, 2004). In the context of Hackney and the 2012 Olympics, many families and individuals, their businesses, neighbourhood, environment, community, means of income and other natural and built environments may be lost temporarily, or forever. The economic goal is lofty but a priority. In an era of global economic downfall, the 2012 Olympics as of this moment is considered a solution to halt the fall for London, the UK in general, and East London in particular. The borough of Hackney is one of the major venue and players of the major games event that hopefully will benefit from the Olympics not only in economic but also socio-political and cultural gains. References Hackney (Council). 2010. “Economic Development Strategy for Hackney.” Consultation Draft. October. London Development Agency. 2004. Environmental Statement: Lower Lea Valley Olympic & Legacy Planning Applications. January 2004. Symonds. Weiss, C. H. (1972). Evaluation research. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Your Report Read More