Assessing the Effect of Area Based Initiatives on Local Area Outcomes: Some Thoughts Based on the National Evaluation of the Single Regeneration Budget in England

Abstract

During the past 25 years, there has been an extensive use of Area Based Initiatives (ABIs) to regenerate run-down areas in many countries. However, despite their increased popularity, evidence on their success in helping to turn around depressed areas remains elusive. The evidence base has been constrained by inadequate understanding of the theory of change behind the policy intervention, insufficient development of evaluation theory and method and a lack of information about the impact of the interventions on the key outcomes that they are designed to affect. This article seeks to address the third of these limitations-namely, a focus on the impact of ABIs on key outcomes that reflect the quality of life of the people who live in depressed areas. However, it also considers issues relating to the other two key factors. The article illustrates how the impacts of ABIs on key outcomes might be assessed by drawing upon recent findings that have emerged from an evaluation of one of the largest ABI programmes that has been deployed in England, that of the Single Regeneration Budget.