The Governance of a Shrinking City: Housing Renewal in the Liverpool Conurbation, UK

This paper contributes to an emerging international research agenda examining the governance of ‘shrinking’ (depopulating) cities. It presents the findings of recent empirical research into the governance of housing renewal in the Liverpool conurbation (Merseyside), UK. Housing is a policy area which is directly affected by changes in population trends, and so this study provides insights into the way the conurbation has responded to shrinkage with regard to this issue. This paper concludes that the Merseyside response bears similarities to other international studies of shrinking cities in displaying an interplay between local and wider actors seeking to address the specific problems being faced by the area. An increasing reliance upon private sector involvement has also been evident, concurring with the findings of other recent studies on housing renewal governance in the UK. However, while the agendas of local delivery bodies have aligned in implementing programmes, there have been conflicts with some local residents.