renewal.net has been developed to fulfil one of the commitments of the Government's National Strategy Action Plan for neighbourhood renewal. The Action Plan called for development of a knowledge management system, which would be "a systematic and comprehensive guide to the information available on what works in tackling the various problems of deprived neighbourhoods. It will draw upon experience of what works, across England and beyond, and link into sources of evidence from other departments, outside bodies and regional, local and neighbourhood feedback."

Although the site has been developed by Communities and Local Government, our aim is to provide an independent, evidence based view of what works and what doesn't in neighbourhood renewal. The documents commissioned for renewal.net have been produced by a team of independent experts.

renewal.net aims to help all those involved in neighbourhood renewal to design, develop and implement projects, based on evidence of what works. It is built around the needs of practitioners - providing short, readable and punchy documents, not long and inaccessible reports. It was developed in consultation with potential users, who influenced the look and feel of the site and the type of information it contains. The website will also help Communities and Local Government to spread ideas and evidence across Whitehall, to encourage reform and the improvement of services at every level. The development of renewal.net will be a continuing process.