The Labour Government has unleashed a new dynamism in urban policy and politics in Britain and given rise to a variety of initiatives including elected mayors, regional development agencies and assaults on social exclusion and educational standards, to name but a few. This lucid and accessible text analyses the key changes in approach and policy since the 1970s - especially the increased role of the market and its implications for the legitimacy and accountability of local political structures. It provides a valuable introduction to the development and an insight into the opportunities and constraints of urban renewal.