In the past decade, Britain's inner cities have received millions of pounds of taxpayers' money - as successive governments have wrestled to reverse their decline. But more and more of that investment has gone into prestige city and dockland developments - less and less to local communities.
Last week Brass Tacks reported on the 'Eldonians' - a group of people in Liverpool who took on the planners and the politicians to build new homes for themselves.
Tonight John Harrison asks if this is a realistic way forward for the rest of the inner-city communities. In the audience are planners, politicians, activists - and you, the viewers, who rang in to have your say.
Director ROBERT KHODADAD Producer DIANNE NELMES Editor COLIN CAMERON BBC North West