How place narrative and the direction of place-based development interventions interrelate: Comparing local initiatives in England and Sweden

Abstract

This paper examines how local narratives form the foundations of local development interventions. Research centres on a qualitative study of two place-based development initiatives in England and Sweden. The English case involves the development and implementation of urban cultural and heritage strategies in the city of Gloucester. The Swedish case foresees an ambitious vision for sustainable food within future local development in Mjölby. Our analysis integrates three local development dimensions that generate narratives, namely: place-trajectory, constellation of local actors linked to the proposed intervention and the role of local government for place-based interventions. As a result, three conclusions are presented. Firstly, while narratives for place-making nurture pride in historical foundations, the interpretation of the local past for future visions is negotiated. Secondly, local governments have important but locally varied roles in designing initiatives. The collaborative and community-based approach in Gloucester contrasts to the industrial growth approach in Mjölby, clearly reflecting distinctions in the positions of the local governments in their national settings. Thirdly, it remains important to understand place-making as a relational spatial activity. Motivations and resources for the initiatives reviewed here depend on broader governance and stakeholder interrelationships.