Challenging Images: Housing Estimates, Stigma and Regeneration

Is area and community regeneration enough to challenge the negative perceptions of a stigmatised housing estate? The authors of this report argue that, unless a housing estate's image problems are effectively challenged alongside regeneration, stigma will remain. This report is the first to look for solutions to estates' image problems as a means of ensuring that the improvements made by regeneration processes are concrete and long-lasting. Challenging images examines three housing estates which have long-established problem reputations but which have experienced substantial regeneration. The report provides detailed evidence of the perceptions of estate residents, residents of neighbouring areas and local stakeholders such as regeneration partners, employers, journalists and estate agents. It: discusses the impact of stigma on life chances; identifies key actors responsible for building negative estate images; suggests key actors for positively managing images; provides good practice suggestions for 'image management'; looks at implications for policy and practice; argues that image management should be a central component of regeneration packages. Challenging images will be of key interest to those involved in regeneration partnerships, managers of housing in low demand, and students and researchers of urban and housing policy.