KEY figures in the regeneration of the North-west's rundown urban areas are taking part in a milestone conference in Birmingham.

Two years after the Government published its Urban White Paper, more than 1,500 leading regeneration experts are gathering for the two-day Urban Summit at the city's International Convention Centre today and tomorrow.

The delegates include Professor Michael Parkinson, of Liverpool John Moores University, Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Northwest Development Agency, Bishop James Jones, the Bishop of Liverpool, broadcaster Felicity Goodey of the North West Cultural Consortium and Professor Brian Robson, of the University of Manchester.

The summit will review the progress made since publication of the White Paper and a number of projects from the North-west will be under discussion, including schemes in east Manchester and Kensington in Liverpool.

Mr Gray said: "It is vital at an event as important as the Summit that we make the voice of the North-west heard.

"There are some excellent examples of urban regeneration work taking place in the region, improving the lives of people in some of the country's most deprived areas.

"We need to be proud of our achievements, but also listen to what others are doing well and learn the lessons we can apply on our own doorstep."

The NWDA has recently invested £33 million pounds in regeneration schemes throughout the region.

The role of arts and culture and also religion in the urban renaissance of north-western towns and cities will be highlighted by Felicity Goodey of the NW cultural consortium, and the Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones.

Ms Goodey said: "Nearly 10 per cent of the region's workforce is now employed in culturally related industries.

"Arts, media, sport, heritage, museums and tourism contribute billions of pounds to our economy.

"The huge success of the Commonwealth Games and major projects like The Lowry have demonstrated the power of cultural industries to transform communities, economies and individual lives."