The
Observatory itself is a collaboration between the County’s three universities
and the City Council. The intention is to bring together the local wealth of
expertise in urban studies, architecture and planning history and open up an
informed debate on urban planning with the wider community.
It is a
superb initiative already securing a steady following. I think it would benefit
if a way could be found to broaden its audience to involve more of the key
development decision makers both public and private.
This second
talk was given by Professor Loretta Lees of the University of Leicester and
based upon her book “Planetary Gentrification” and subsequent work. I will
immediately confess that I have not read the book and rely on her presentation.
The basic premise,
as I read it, is that gentrification in major cities such as London has
negative consequences, particularly in displacing and marginalising the poor
from the heart of our urban communities. These people are then pushed out to
the fringes and separated from each other, so that their family and friend
support networks are broken. And this leads to poorer lives for those for whom
help is most needed.
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| Urban Regeneration in Leicester City Centre on New Walk |
I do not and
could not disagree with her sentiment in any way, but I just cannot see it
happening in provincial cities like Leicester anytime soon.
Using
Leicester as an example, I can accept that in the comprehensive slum clearances
from the 1920’s to early 1970’s this will have happened.
However,
there has been no such activity since that time other than the demolition of
some major tower blocks built in the ‘60s and ‘70s. These were blighted with
such physical fabric and social problems that very few would defend their
retention.
Instead I
would argue that one of the City’s principal problems since the 1920’s has been
the flight of the affluent and wealth creators to the surrounding countryside.
This substantial disconnect continues to exist with, for example, one of the
continuing challenges for our major regional shopping centre (Highcross) is how
to attract into the City the wealthier shopper, who can have a major input into
the City’s economy.
Meanwhile
Leicester’s urban regeneration continues apace. Much of the City centre has
been revitalised. I do not have the figures, but my guess is that the
residential population has multiplied five fold this century. No one has been
displaced.
Equally, if
one looks at the wider Waterside area of the City where much of the urban
regeneration of the next 10 years must be concentrated, it is very largely
empty spaces or still redundant commercial premises. There are very few, if any,
residential properties. If you look at these areas carefully (because most is
hidden from the main routes) it is amazing the space available. How to get
these areas developed, with socially mixed communities, including
gentrification, is the real challenge.
The lessons
we should be learning (good and bad, but mostly good), is from such
developments as the successful City Challenge Urban regeneration of Bede Island
etc. of the 1990’s. Gentrification in Leicester, I would suggest, is a side
issue at best.
Urban
regeneration is multifaceted. What is happening in Leicester and other similar
cities include a whole range of new housing types from major student housing
schemes to privately rented schemes (PRS), often in large discrete blocks. What
we want to learn more about is how to encourage redevelopment, but at the same
time maintain the uniqueness and enhance the quality of development, plus continue
the place for all social classes in our City.
Being
unashamedly a practitioner, I always feel it is easy for academics to look at
one particular issue. The real challenge is how to blend all the competing objectives
into a successful vibrant and inclusive City. Now that is where I would like to
see academic research concentrated.
Peter Wilkinson
