Giving urban policy its 'medical': assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration

Atkinson, R., Thomson, H., Kearns, A. and Petticrew, M. (2006) Giving urban policy its 'medical': assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration. Policy and Politics, 34(1), pp. 5-26. (doi: 10.1332/030557306775212179)

Abstract

How does regeneration affect health and how have successive urban policy evaluations sought to measure such impacts? This article draws on a systematic review of national-level evaluation documentation relating to government-funded, area-based regeneration initiatives in the UK since 1980. The review examined whether health impacts had been intended and, if so, how they had been measured. The process and difficulties of conducting the review raise significant questions about policy formulation and evaluation. Is evidence-based policy possible where evaluations are not stored centrally? In short, a model policy development as 'enlightened' or incremental is hard to sustain where a lack of systematic storage of data means that researchers, policy makers and practitioners may struggle to produce clear answers to important policy questions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Policy and Politics. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Atkinson, R., Thomson, H., Kearns, A., and Petticrew, M. (2006) Giving urban policy its 'medical': assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration. Policy and Politics, 34 (1). pp. 5-26 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/030557306775212179
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thomson, Dr Hilary and Petticrew, Dr Mark
• Authors: Atkinson, R., Thomson, H., Kearns, A., and Petticrew, M.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Policy and Politics
• Publisher: The Policy Press
• ISSN: 0305-5736
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 The Policy Press
• First Published: First published in Policy & Politics 34(1):5-26
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher