Introduction

The early to mid-1990s is a particularly interesting period in which to examine urban local authority housing policy. It was a time of upheaval and turbulence as government legislation and financial controls affected local authorities’ capacity to determine their own political priorities. The imposition of compulsory competitive tendering and funding strategies, designed to encourage the participation of the private sector in the development and implementation of housing renewal strategies, precipitated transformations within the internal organisation and the structure of local authorities.