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Closing the Gap: Our Approach to Neighbourhood Renewal in Sheffield
These pages contain information about a variety of different projects and initiatives, within the Regeneration and Partnership Service, that help to address social exclusion and for all our neighbourhoods to become both attractive and successful.
Background and Context
Creating successful and attractive neighbourhoods is one of the ten corporate priorities and key strategic goals of Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield First Family of Partnerships. The key vision of activities undertaken to achieve successful and attractive neighbourhoods is that:
"Sheffield will be a city, where each neighbourhood is a pleasant place to live and visit that functions well and where residents feel proud to live. Irrespective of where people live or to which community they belong, everyone will have the opportunity and choice to benefit from and contribute to the city's growth and restructuring."
Like most big cities, Sheffield has some of the most deprived wards in the country. In direct contrast Sheffield also has some of the most affluent areas in England. The key difference between Sheffield and several other big cities is that its affluent suburbs are largely within the City Council's boundaries.
Another important feature of Sheffield is that any map of social indicators for Sheffield shows the same broad pattern: a deprived Northeast and affluent South West. This means that to successfully close the gap between these areas and ensure that every neighbourhood is successful, we need to improve the most deprived areas faster than the city as a whole.
What we mean by successful neighbourhoods
The Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy uses the following features to define a successful neighbourhood:
- A place where people choose to live, and housing is of a good standard with accessible services and affordable / modern homes which people choose,
- Where children and young people are supported, and there is good access to schools,
- Streets are clean and well maintained and green spaces and the natural environment are well maintained and well used,
- There is low crime, and communities are cohesive with active citizens and displaying community pride,
- There are lifelong learning and training opportunities which those who would benefit most take advantage of,
- Where employment prospects and employability are good,
- Health and well being is good,
- Public services provided to a good standard, including educational achievement, the proportion of looked after children, and health services all above floor target levels.
The engagement of local communities in planning and decision-making processes to ensure that our strategies meet local needs and priorities is crucial to our approach. Successful neighbourhoods will be flexible enough to meet the needs and priorities of the communities that live there.
Downloads
Part one of the Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for Sheffield. (1.03 MB)
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