Urban regeneration and planning expert who breathed new life into Belfast, Birmingham and the Royal Docks in London
Clive Dutton, who has died aged 62 of cancer, produced influential redevelopment plans for Belfast after the Troubles, Birmingham after the upgrade of the Bull Ring and the Royal Docks in east London after the failure of many previous revitalisation efforts.
He was an expert in urban regeneration, which from the 1970s onwards has broadened to embrace economic and social renewal. With the decline of local budgets in the 80s, this has involved councils having to work with central government, the private sector and communities to bring about renewal, meaning that good regeneration planners are “doers” who act like impresarios. Clive was able to bring parties together, inspire and cajole, find the money and, often as not, put on a great show.
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