The research explores the capacity of contested cities to respond to the complex problems presented by contemporary society. It investigates the role of city governance, in particular the meso tier, in twinning the processes of regeneration and reconciliation and creating collaborative advantage. A programme of action is advanced to aid the development ofa strategic focus for contested cities. To enable an immersion in the three central areas under study: regeneration, contested space and urban governance, a participatory action research approach, which utilises a triangulated methodology, is adopted. The research reveals that to fully address the complexities of planning in contested space, urban managers must adopt a multi-faceted approach, which explores the root causes of the contest through reflective debate. The research finds that new forms of governing and collaborative and consensus building practices are increasingly essential to keep apace with and deal effectively with the complexity and rapid transformations taking place in society; the growing diversity of values among individuals and communities; and the fragmentation of power and leadership.