Population mobility in regeneration areas : trends, drivers, and implications; evidence from England’s New Deal for Communities Programme

The nature, extent, and impact of residential mobility have attracted considerable interest. Little of this work has explored relationships between mobility and outcomes for area-based regeneration schemes. England’s New Deal for Communities (NDC) Programme marks a departure from previous regeneration programmes in terms of levels of funding and time span. Evidence suggests that between 2002 and 2006 the thirty-nine NDC areas were subject to complex patterns of mobility, the most important drivers of which were age and tenure. Residents moving out of NDC areas did so for housing and environmental reasons and were less disadvantaged than those who stayed. Those moving into the areas during this period were not more disadvantaged than existing residents. Although there are associations between mobility and outcome change, these are not as strong as might be anticipated and their implications for area-based regeneration policy appear relatively marginal.