THE ICC REPORT

The Royal Institute of British Architects' Inner Cities Committee was formed in May 1986 at the invitation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. It had the following terms of reference: ‘To promote a report recommending actions that can be taken to assist in alleviating the problems of our inner cities, with particular emphasis on the future form of the cities and on effective means of attracting private investment and the greater participation of people in their own environment.’ The Committee published its report in May 1987 and its appearance coincided with the first days of the general election campaign. All three major parties featured the inner cities as important elements of their manifestos, but none was in any way specific about the mechanisms by which regeneration could be achieved. The report's detailed proposals for a national approach to the organisation and funding of renewal, are in sharp contrast to the generalities of many of the political speech‐writers. This paper briefly summarises the report. Shortly after it was submitted for publication, the newly‐returned Conservative Government announced that its priorities for inner cities would include planning, housing, education, rates and improving derelict environments.