Jigsaw Cities

At the book launch for Jigsaw Cities its author, Professor Anne Power and John Houghton, emphasised the importance of understanding cities as made up of a number of different jigsaw puzzle pieces with no picture on the cover to help put it all together. For physical regeneration there was discussion about renovating existing stock, using micro-spaces, and developing mixed use communities.

Why is it that the presumed starting point for regeneration is still physical - rather than psychological? In my experience it is when individuals find confidence and hope that a community can start to regenerate. It takes more than uPVC windows and doors to bring a community hope as this article by Sue Townsend so brilliantly illustrates.