Research & evidence

The Homes and Communities Agency

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has a series of research projects and research partners. Its primary research project is Mind the Skills Gap, which forecasts labour shortages within the sustainable community sector.

Arts Council England

Taking part in the arts is an ongoing national survey commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Arts Council England, Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. It collects annual information on the participation of around 30,000 adults in the arts, creative activities and sports. The site presents results from the survey, as well as case studies, information and guidance.

What people want from the arts from Arts Council England answers exactly that question by summarising research findings from the ‘arts debate’, Arts Council England’s first ever public value inquiry.

CABE

CABE’s Housing Audit programme assesses the quality of new private housing across England. It highlights areas where design quality has been lacking, and showcases developments that demonstrate best practice. CABE assessed the regions of England in turn: North East, North West and Yorkshire & Humber; London, South East and the East of England; East Midlands, West Midlands and the South West.

As part of a programme of research, guidance and case studies, CABE has explored the impact of good street design in economic and public value terms. The research, Paved with gold: the real value of street design, shows that investing in design quality reaps financial and social returns.

CABE has published The value handbook: getting the most from your buildings and spaces, which presents clear evidence about the benefits of good design.

English Heritage

Heritage Counts is the annual survey of the state of England’s historic environment. Each year, it is prepared by English Heritage on behalf of the Historic Environment Review Executive Committee and the Regional Historic Environment Forums. The series chronicles how the historic environment has changed since 2002.

Heritage funding continues to make a significant contribution to the regeneration and sustainable development of communities across England. The Heritage Dividend research report from English Heritage evaluates that contribution, while a further report outlines work undertaken on the Heritage Dividend Methodology.

English Heritage has gathered together a wide range of evidence, case studies, guidance notes and policy statements on Historic Environment – Local Management (HELM). This is a portal for all those looking for advice, guidance and evidence relating to the historic environment.

Through a combination of case studies and statistical evidence, Regeneration and the historic environment demonstrates how an understanding of the history of a place lies at the heart of sustainable regeneration.  The advice is applicable to urban and rural areas, and offers a ten point checklist on how the historic environment can be successfully integrated within schemes of regeneration. 

Low demand housing and the historic environment has been prepared to demonstrate how the historic environment can assist in the regeneration of areas which are experiencing housing market failure.  Although the guidance is aimed at the Pathfinder Partnerships, we believe it will also be of assistance in areas where pockets of low demand housing are on a smaller scale.

Museums, Libraries & Archives

The MLA hosts Research and resources, a site which promotes and supports research and evidence from museums, libraries and archives, in order to help decision making, improve communications, and guide the sector’s development. This site includes a searchable database of research documents and case studies.

Reports on Cultural Mapping in Pennine Lancashire offer a wealth of research and evidence as well as recommendations.

Regional Cultural Observatories

The Network of Regional Cultural Observatories provides Evidence and Intelligence on culture’s contribution to public and regional policy.

South West Cultural Observatory

South East Cultural Observatory

West Midlands Cultural Observatory

East Midlands Cultural Observatory

North West Cultural Observatory

North East Cultural Observatory

(Note: at present Cultural Observatories are not running in London, the East of England and Yorkshire)

SEEDA and The South East Cultural Observatory

The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) and The South East Cultural Observatory (SECO) have published Demonstrating the Case for Culture, a document that takes the first steps to establishing a model for assessing the value of cultural inputs to policies for regeneration and place-making. The document shows how cultural projects contribute to the economic and social development of the places in which they are located.

Sport England

Sport England's research agenda, closely connected to its strategic priorities, is designed to influence and shape policy and practice in sport. The research is broadly categorised into the following areas: Active People Survey; Sport Satisfaction; Market Segmentation; Sports Facts; Tracking Trends; Understanding Participation and Evaluating Impact.