Chris Wadhams is a freelance writer and neighbourhood renewal consultant whose work has led to the recognition that housing associations could be key players in broad based programmes of neighbourhood renewal.

This began with the publication of the 1977 report "Revival or Survival in the Inner City", from which flowed the "People for Action" network, the Housing Corporation's "Housing Plus" programme, elements of the SEU PAT4 study on neighbourhood management, the NHF's InBizz initiative and recent research published by hact.

Chris has authored a wide range of publications over the past two decades on, LETS, housing associations and neighbourhood management, community safety issues relating particularly to guns and gangs, community cohesion programmes, opportunities for older people and narratives on examples of good practice in neighbourhood initiatives and the activities of community champions.

These have influenced key policy proposals: the Housing Market Renewal Areas, New Deal for Communities programmes and the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder programmes.

Chris is an advisor to the Local Wellbeing Project.