Case Study : The EU Urban II Community Initiative in North Belfast

This case study looks at the experiences of the EU URBAN Programme and its attempts to regenerate disadvantaged areas of metropolitan Europe (see Carpenter, 2006 for a fuller description). The Programme has two objectives: First, to promote the formulation and implementation of particularly innovative strategies for sustainable economic and social regeneration of small and medium sized towns and cities or of distressed urban neighbourhoods in larger cities; Second, to enhance and exchange knowledge and experience in relation to sustainable urban regeneration and development in the Community. This case study looks at the attempts to tackle ethno-religious segregation through areabased integrated development programmes. The initiative had important successes in building bottom regeneration processes and participatory capacity but also illustrates the limits to programmes in highly segregated and ethnicised communities