Event Type: Branch

Takes Place: 6th May 2026

Time: 5.30-7pm

Venue: Liverpool John Moores Student Life Building, room 2.06, Copperas Hill, Liverpool L3 5AJ

Description: Dr Botcherby will explore the effects of de-industrialisation and environmental regeneration on communities in the Northwest, using St Helens as an illustrative case study. Pierre will talk around the topic of recent published work reflecting on the moment, as he writes, ‘in the 1970s when the Major Urban Fringe Experiment, later known as Operation Groundwork, emerged in response to industrial decline, growing awareness of industry’s environmental impact and grass-roots environmentalism and regeneration activism. Contrary to ideas of concomitant industrial and community decline, Groundwork demonstrates post-industrial regeneration’s community-building potential. Groundwork created bespoke volunteer groups, helped set up others and worked with already existing organizations. Unlike contemporary regeneration initiatives in the 1970s and 1980s, these community links were retained even as Groundwork expanded’ Pierre’s talk ‘traces Groundwork’s origins and its launch under Labour in the 1970s, its championing by Conservative Minister Michael Heseltine and its successful expansion from its initial test site in St Helens (Merseyside), to the North-West and then nationwide.’ Citation from Botcherby, P in ‘Building community through environmental regeneration: Operation Groundwork’ in Urban History, 2024:1-17. doi:10.1017/S0963926824000646

Price: Free to HA & Branch Associate members, visitors £4. Associate membership is £15 per year.

Email: Merseysideha@gmail.com

Website: https://merseysideha.co.uk

Organiser: HA Merseyside Branch

Lecturer: Dr Pierre Botcherby

Region: North-West England

Branch: Merseyside