It’s the biggest ever regeneration project to be carried out by a single London borough. Will Hatchett searches for signs of progress on the redevelopment of Elephant and Castle

Councils are increasingly expected to help tenants find work. Rosie Niven finds out how town hall bureaucrats are preparing to beat the poverty trap

Stoke and Hull are about to experience life in football’s richest league. But will it kick off an economic revival in the two cities? Brendan Nevin and Alan Harding give their pre-season predictions

Government wants to hand council economic development officers a bigger role than ever before. But are they too far down the pecking order to deliver? Rosie Niven reports

A debate ensued when developers unveiled the name of a major new development in Bristol city centre. Drawing on the identity of a place is a tricky business, says James Symonds

How can regeneration projects survive when government funding is divorced from the realities of rising costs and delays? Susan Downer finds out from an award winning initiative helping former mining communities

Local authorities and regional development agencies are heavyweights on the changing economic development scene, but deciding on new shared responsibilities will be a challenge, says Phil Northall

Multi-area agreements are a name without a face, but over the coming years they could become powerful economic development drivers. Susan Downer weighs up the challenges and opportunities

The government’s headline spending plans have already left a bitter taste in some regeneration quarters. But, says Susan Downer, a closer look at the finer details may make for even more unpalatable reading

When Liverpool was named European capital of culture 2008 it promised to honour the spirit of its diverse population and create a city buzzing with creative life and a bold economic confidence.
But with just five months to go before the city is officially anointed doubts have begun to emerge about what it will achieve and how much those glorified as the city’s greatest asset will really benefit.

Town and city centres have gone through a
retail renaissance in recent years. But a key ingredient to that success could be taken away just as those most in need of a boost are feeling the benefit.

Amid accusations of being London-centric and pressure to cut costs, the BBC is casting its eye over other parts of the UK. Sarah Irving looks at its plans for Salford and asks what they mean for the city

Lesley Chalmers doesn’t profess to have mastered the impossible, but she does endeavour to make the undesirable hard for investors to resist. Susan Downer reports.

If you’re not getting any joy from the National Lottery, what about setting up your own? Barry McCarthy discovers why local lotteries are taking off.

As the southeast reaches bursting point, ministers have offered other regions the chance to stake their claim for new homes and infrastructure. But can those lured by the prospect of extra investment deliver sustainable growth? Barry McCarthy reports.

How can we keep our cities creative? In a new study published this week, Justin O’Connor outlines some key challenges.

A squad of big hitters is preparing to bat for the north of England as it seeks to restore its economic position. Austin Macauley assesses the challenge.

Gareth Hall is looking forward to the day the Welsh Development Agency is absorbed into the civil service. He tells Austin Macauley why he thinks Wales should rejoice at the bonfire of the quangos

Globalisation has left many deprived communities trapped in poverty. But by working together they can find a way out, says Stan Thekaekara

When traditional industries go into decline, turning them into a tourist attraction isn’t the only option. Paul Humphries reports.

The knowledge economy is expected to be the economic saviour of the 21st century. Mark Hepworth asks whether it will live up to its promise.

Public policy around creative industries anticipates new wealth that can reach into disadvantaged communities. As south Yorkshire enters a month of regeneration events, Austin Macauley looks at how the creative and digital industries are rising to the challenge

A visitor to London might imagine everyone in the capital wants the Olympic Games. Robert Nurden discovers why some in the East End aren’t convinced.

When the armed services take off, it isn’t just a worry for retired colonels: it has a huge impact on local economies. Paul Humphries investigates

Squeezed between a high-profile growth plan for the south of England and a wide ranging rescue plan for the north, the midlands is setting out its vision for the future. David Blackman reports.