Regenerating Places 

EQ1: How and why do places vary? 

● Economic activity can be classified by  
○ Sector 
■ Primary 
● Extraction of raw 
materials 
○ Farming 
■ Secondary 
● Manufacturing process 
○ Iron Production 
■ Tertiary 
● Service sector jobs 
○ Retail, teaching 
■ Quaternary 
● High tech research and design 
● Clarke and Fisher model depicts how countries move from primary to secondary or tertiary as they develop 
● Improved education and cultural change lead to higher qualifications and ability to obtain higher paid work 
 
Economic activity can also be classified by:  
○ Type of employment 
■ Part/Full time 
●  
■ Temporary/Permanent 
● Ability to be flexible has become important  
● Businesses are starting to avoid employing workers on permanent contracts 
● Temporary migrants or student workers often fil seasonal jobs 
■ Employed/Self Employed 
 
Employment and social factors 
 
● There is large inequality in the levels of pay and work across the UK 
○ Hartlepool has twice the national average unemployment rate 
○ Although cities occupy only 9% of the Uk’s area, they host 60% of all jobs 
○ The gender gap whilst decreasing still exists - on average men are paid 10% more than women 
○ The overheated south east  
■ Industrial cities have been affected by cheaper chinese imports high energy costs, green tax and 
higher energy costs have led TNCs to cut jobs in order to reduce costs - e.g. LG shut down its base in 
Newport 
■ The lower importance of manufacturing in the South East has meant it’s been less vulnerable to 
globalisation forces and has been less affected by deindustrialization and recessions 
■ The south east generates 48% of growth output for the UK 
● Unemployment affects health, life expectancy and education 
○ Growing up in poverty and the likeholiif of dropping out of further education affects health in later life 
■ Cheaper more processed food tends to be more fattening and unhealthy. 
■ Obesity levels are soaring in the UK 
 ○ The postcode lottery refers to the uneven distribution of local personal health nationally, especially in mental 
health, diagnosis of cancer and emergency care for the elderly 
○ People in industrial sector jobs may be more exposed to harmful chemicals or pollutants and have a raised 
risk of poorer health and mortality 
○ Black people generally have worse health than the overall population 
○ In Harrow, people live on average 6 years longer than someone in Glasgow - highlighting the North/South 
variations 
○ Kensington and CHelsea have one of the highest rate of earnings which also coincides with high life 
expectancy - 80 (men) and 86 (women 
○  
 
Inequalities in pay and its effects on the quality of life 
 
● London is by far the most prosperous region in rates of pay across the UK 
● Industrial cities tend to have lower average pay than elsewhere - as they are still suffering from deinstitualization 
● The lowest rates overall as in North-West Wales. 
● In 2016, the government introduced a minimum National Living Wage for over 25s - at £7.20/hr 
● Bankers and doctors tend to be the highest paid earner (Earning over £55,000, whilst those working as carers or in 
education and other public sector jobs tend to earn the least 
● Many on zero hour contracts are forced into debt and lack savings 
● The number of people releasing emergency food has increased by 33% 
● The Index of multiple deprivation measures quality of life 
 
Changing Places 
 
 
● Places may be associated with one particular or dominant function - e.g. mining or tourism 
● They may also have a distinct demographic characteristics 
● However changes may occur to the function and demographic of a place 
○ Functional Change 
■ Mechanisation meant fewer workers for manual labour and so many flocked to industrial towns and 
cities providing cheap labour for factories 
■ Country towns behan to hose key administrative functions - county courts, banks etc. 
■ Today's post industrial economy has meant towns have completed to become retail destinations 
■ The internet and broadband services however are changing consumer habits with online shopping 
increasing 
● This has led to a decline in store retail services 
■ Pubs now double up as communities centres, post offices and village shops in rural areas 
○ Demographic change 
■ 86% of people in the UK are white (91% in 2001) 
■ Rural areas have higher elderly populations 
■ There has been a rise in youth unemployment due to less graduate employment 
■ Gentrification refers to renovating an area to attract more affluent people to move into a location 
● This may involve changing a place’s function and characteristics to attract people of higher 
social status and income 
   
Why do places change? 
 
● Physical 
○ Location may be close to cities and core economic zones 
○ Environment - places vary in attractiveness 
○ Sea level rise has caused coastal recession in some places threatening agricultural and tourism workers 
○ Farmland is being converted to create large solar farms and renewable sources and zero emission buildings 
are integrated into urban planning 
● Accessibility and connectedness 
○ Access to other places - by road, air and rail - are increasingly important 
○ However railway towns such as Crewere have seen decline since the development of motorways 
○ Connections help build competition and investment 
● Historical Development 
○ The post-industrial economy means a decline in primary production and manufacturing industries 
○ Before cars were developed, the CBD was the optimum place for functions such as retail,. Land values increase 
historically towards the CBD  
○ In some areas, the further out from the CBD, the more expensive the housing 
○ Increased affluence have meant houses and buildings have changed - e.g. to B&Bs or second homes 
● Local and national planning 
○ The government in 1990 tried to increase student numbers so that 50% of children went on to higher 
education 
○ Greenbelt was introduced to London, inhibiting further development 
○ State funded council housing, industry and transport shifted to privatisation and greater partnerships with 
private investors and speculators 
 
Measuring Change 
 
● Employment trends 
● Demographic changes 
● Land use change 
● Levels of deprivation 
○ Income deprivation 
○ Employment deprivation 
○ Heath deprivation 
○ Crime 
○ Quality of living in environment 
○ Abandoned and derelict land 
 
The Index of Multiple Deprivation 
 
● Used by government to target regeneration anda locate resources to places and people 
● Places are ranked by level of deprivation - the ranking is relative - not everyone in a deprived area is deprived 
● 32,844 LSOAs (small areas) are used in the ranking 
● There are 7 main indicators including: income, employment, health, education, crime and living environment 
● Findings suggest deviation is concentrated in large urban areas that were historically industrial and manufacturing 
based - e.g. Liverpool 
● Some areas such as Tower Hamlets has become less deprived 
   
EQ2: Why might regeneration be needed?  
Successful regions are characterised by 
 
● High rates of employment 
● Inward migration (international and internal) 
● Low levels of multiple deprivation 
 
Case Study: San Francisco Bay Area 
 
● Reputation of economic energy, cultural vibrancy and tolerance 
● It is home to global business focused on the Information Technology sector - e.g. Dropbox and Twitter 
● Phenomenal growth in STEM biotech and life sciences 
● The multiplier effect has occurred as technological infrastructure improvements have led to higher quality of life 
and a highly skilled workforce 
● San Francisco has the most immigrants per capita than any other US city - the average San Francisco immigrant 
makes 88.5 percent of the area median income 
● Not all areas have benefited due to gentrification  
● The median price of a house has increased to $1.6 million - double the figure from 5 years ago 
 
Why regeneration can lead to success? 

 
 
Consequences of successful regions: 
 
● High property prices 
○ Sometimes a two-tier economy is produced whereby workers in less well paid jobs are outpriced in the housing 
market, when high demand to leads to high property prices 
● Skill shortages in both urban and areas result 
○ There may be a shortage of workers with insufficient training for the quaternary and quinary jobs required 
for a new growing economy. Migration may be subsequently encouraged 
● Congestion of roads and public transport 
 
● Rural areas too can benefit from regeneration. Some small businesses are growing faster than many larger urban 
areas oth in terms of population and economic output 
● There has been growth of of micro businesses. 
 Unsuccessful places 
 
● Economic restructuring refers to change in 
manufacturing areas to more service based 
areas 
● Unemployment can trigger a spiral of decline 
● This has triggered a spiral of decline involving 
increasing levels of social deprivation 
○ Education 
○ Health 
○ Crime 
○ Access to services 
○ Living environment 
● The highest levels of deprivation found in the 2015 IMD report was found in Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Manchester - 
all areas affected by deindustrialisation 
 
Case Study: The Rust Belt, USA 
 
● References once powerful manufacturing regions that stretched from the great lakes to the Midwest - famous for 
steel and car production 
● It fell into economic decline due to automation, global shift and increased free trade (cheap imports from China) 
● Many areas such as Detroit, Baltimore etc have failed and struggled 
● Cities in the region are characterised by poverty, depopulation and are near bankruptcy 
 
 
Priorities for regeneration 
 
Sink estates and declining rural settlements require the highest level of attention/priority. Gates communities and commuter 
villages require the least. 
 
● Gated communities 
○ Settlements including individual buildings or groups of housing. They are landscapes of surveillance with 
CCTV and often 24/7 security guards. They are designed to deter access by unknown people and reduce crime 
● Commuter Villages 
○ Settlements where the portion of the population living in them commute out daily to large settlements 
nearby or further afield 
○ Very common in the Isle of Dogs 
○ These areas tend to have affluent populations and low levels of deprivation measured by wealth and 
employment. 
○ Lack of affordable housing 
■ Deliver 10,500 new homes, mainly on brownfield site. 
■ Encourage a mixture of house sizes, types etc 
■ Invest in sustainable public transport 
● Sink Estates 
○ Housing estates with high levels of economic and social deprivation (crime especially - domestic, violence, 
drugs) 
○ Home to lots of council housing 
● Declining rural settlements 
 
  
 
Engagement in communities 
 
There are wide variations in the levels of engagement 
 
● Local and national election turnout 
○ National Turnout 
■ 7.5 million people are still not registered  
■ Poor, black and young people in urban areas are least likely to on the electoral roll 
■ 66.1% of people did not vote in the 2015 elections 
■ Rural parties tend to support Conservatives whilst industrial areas tend to support Labour 
■ Rural areas tend to have higher turnouts 
■ 18-24 year olds least likely to vote - 43% 
● The Economist believes this is because young people don’t feel like they have a high stake in 
society. A lot of people think there isn’t anyone worth voting for - i.e. there is a lack of 
charismatic leaders. Most politicians pander to older people, who can secure a vote. 
○ EU Referendum 
■ The 18-24 Group were least likely to vote.  
■ Possible due to the hassle of voting - cost of registering, cost of giving in the vote in etc 
■ The level of education also affected voting patterns 
■ 90% of older people with degrees voted; 44% of young people with just GCSEs voted 
○ Local Elections 
■ Local election turnout is even lower 
■ In 2014, it was only 36% 
■ There have been calls to move voting online 
● Development and Support of local community Groups 
○ Support varies across the country, depending on local willingness to participate and the aim of the group 
○ Not In My Back Yard (NIMBYISM) is quite common in rural areas 
○ Some groups are focused of helping the vulnerable people in the local community 0 meals on wheels, 
transport to hospitals and friendship groups 
○ The National Lottery is one key player in the funding of regeneration project 
 
Attachment to places vary according to age, ethnicity, gender, length of resident (new migrants, students) and levels of 
deprivation which in turn impacts engagement 
 
● Immediately after the war, migrants who arrived clustered together, particular in London 
● Many non-white communities have disersed themselves to different towns and cities 
● In Bolton, people of all ethnicities and religions supported Amir Khan box 
● Women may still free less able to go to the pub alone 
● Women or men may also be more active in their local community home with their children 
● New migrants or students may feel less strong attachments than longstanding locals 
● HIgher levels of deprivation may be associated with anti-establishment views 
 
Priorities in regeneration 
 
Different groups within a city have contrasting views of day to day issues - which result in radically different approaches to 
regeneration. There are possible causes including: 
 
● Lack of political engagement or representation 
○ People who tend to experience social deprivation also tend to be most politically excluded 
● Ethnic tensions 
○ In some areas there has been a n increase in political extremist - the growth of EDL who have organised 
protests ad encouraged antipathy towards Muslim communities 
● Inequality 
● Lack of economy opportunity   
EQ3: How is regeneration managed?  
The Role of the government 
 
The government help fund infrastructure projects to maintain growth and improve accessibility. The UK government has tried 
to address the inequality between the North and South by developing Northern Powerhouse where infrastructure investment will 
connect industrial towns and cities in the North East and North West 
 
● High Speed Rail 
○ Lack of rail infrastructure in the Northeast has led to inequalities and lack of labour mobility 
○ A 65 km train from Middlesbrough to Newcastle takes 90 minutes; the same length from Chelmsford to 
London takes 36 minutes 
○ Crossrail is meant to easy congestion in Central London 
○ High Speed Rail hopes to connect London to Birmingham and later northern cities such as Manchester 
○ The government has funded electrification projects in Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool to allow for 
cheaper, faster and longer electric trains 
● Airport Development 
○ Calls have been made to expand Gatwick and Heathrow 
○ In 2015, a proposed third runway was recommended - costing $18.6 billion - mostly privately funded 
■ Many MPs, local and nation protest groups (e.g. Greenpeace) were against the plan 
■ Business leaders such Richard Branson were in favour of the expansion 
 
The Conservative government have opted for some top-down approaches - e.g. The 2012 London Olympics regenerated the East 
of London. The scheme led to 9000 new homes in the Park alone with schools getting new facilities. East to west rail connectivity 
has greatly improved. The olympics games boost Australia's economy by $5 billion in the five years after the 2000 games - a 
similar effect is expected. 
 
Type of development 
 
The type of development and the rate at which it happens affects regeneration of both rural and urban regions 
 
● Planning law 
○ Refers to how land is used 
○ National interests often supercede local interests in planning decisions 
● House building targets and Housing affordability 
○ Labour governments have fostered social housing 
○ Conservative governments have favoured a market led approach 
○ The right to buy policy resulted in more than 2 million council homes from 1980 to 1995 
○ The expectation that private housing association would replace local authorities in building lower costs homes 
never happened 
○ Currently the prices in London and the South east are inflated - large number of empty properties exist in 
London 
○ Social changes, especially increases in the numbers of elderly people and single households, adding pressure 
on the housing market 
○ Cultural changes have led to a rise in single owner occupancy, longer life expectancy and a lack of housing 
supply - all of which lead to house prices rapidly increasing 
● Permission for fracking 
○ The government sees it a priority to increase energy security and economic prosperity 
○ There are many local and national anti-fracking movements - e.g. Frack Off 
 ○ In 2015, £300 billion of oil and gas were discovered close to Gatwick Airport in Sussex 
 
● International Migration 
○ Opening of UK borders have helped regeneration of local areas 
○ Many people from the A8 countries migrated to the UK - many have settled in towns like Slough and Corby 
and other rural market towns and small cities 
○ Corby used to be a town with an aging population and poorly skilled workforce. East European entrepreneurs 
have set up many businesses there - including restaurant, bakeries, marketing agencies 
● Deregulation of capital marks 
○ Deregulation made it easier for companies to locate to the UK and for FDI to flow more easily 
○ The London Stock exchange is on the largest in the world 
○ The City of London has lawyers, accountants and consultants creating an industry worth of £95 billion 
○ Some of this wealth has created regeneration in the former dockland area of East London, which as been 
developed as a financial centre 
 
The Role of local government 
 
Local governments can try and create business environments to attract domestic and foreign investors - e.g. through Science 
Parks 
 
● Science Parks 
● Represent areas as being attractive for investments - they have attractive environments, purpose built buildings and 
sufficient infrastructure and networking groups 
○ Cambridge Science Park 
■ Set up in 1970s and grew rapidly in the 1990s 
■ Expansion in the early 2000s has attracted many foreign TNCs - such as AstraZeneca, Microsoft 
and Toshiba 
■ Life Science industries play a huge role in the park. 
■ The existing campus of the Institute of Cancer REsearch are already in the top 5 global cancer 
research and treatment facilities 
 
Local interest groups play a role in decision making about regeneration 
 
● Chamber of Commerce 
○ Local businesses are often represented by the the local chamber of commerce 
○ They are a network of business that aim to further the interest of businesses 
■ They want economic growth even if it means demolishing of historic old buildings - often older 
people have a nostalgic attachment to historic buildings and campaign to save them 
● Local Preservation Societies 
○ A study (Parliamentary SElect Committee in 2004) found that projects should use historic buildings as a 
foundation as they reinforce a scene of community. They make an important contribution to the local 
economy and act as catalyst for improvements to the wider area 
● Trade Unions 
 
There are inevitably tensions between groups that wish to preserve the environment and those that seek change 
 
Case Study: London Olympics 
 
● Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 
 ○ New infrastructure has been put in place acting as lasting legacy in East London 
○ Many of the original sporting stadiums - e.g.. The Velodrome and Aquatic Centre- are still there 
○ The Olympic Stadium was sold to West Ham 
○ The Olympic Village has been converted into 2800 flats 
○ Two new primary schools, 9 nuraries, 3 health centres were all part of the plan 
○ Stratford International has bolstered transport linksa 
○ Transport for London and the Financial COnduct AUThority aim to love their offices in the park - creating 
25000 jobs 
○ Newham Borough Council are responsible for the development of the park for the rest of the century, 
brining benefits to local residents and the use of facilities for school sports 
○ Unemployment in the areas has decreased from 13% in 2012 to 9%in 2015 
 
Tensions 
 
● Environments are concerned the habitat loss due to redevelopment - the Liver Lea acts as a key migratory route 
○ 500 mature trees would be cut down 
● 450 housing flats will demolished as will Britain's largest church  
● 300 businesses will have to be located - leading to loss of jobs as they move to places out of reach for some people 
● Noise, dust and visual pollution will come true during the construction and associated heavy vehicle movement 
● Concerns over going over-budget where taxpayers will bear the brunt of the cost.  
● Studies suggest little evidence of benefits from holding a large sporting events 
● There will be an increase in house prices as demand increases. This negatively affects local people on low incomes as 
they struggle to get on the property ladder 
 
 
Modern Regeneration strategies 
 
● Retail  
○ Local authorities may change the use of buildings and influence shop types and location of malls, 
pedestrianised areas and alcohol free zones 
○ There is growing competition from out of town centres 
○ The rapid growth of internet shopping has brought new challenges to the high street 
■ E.g. Bath SouthGate 
● Tourism 
○ There is a great diversity in types involving individual households offering B&B to private centres such as 
Centre Parcs 
○ Declining coastal communities (e.g. Margate) may be more vulnerable to deprivation as they used to be 
seaside resorts with a tourism legacy but fell into a spiral of deprivation when holidays abroad and jet travel 
became more commonplace 
■ Bournemouth managed to diversify itself but turning into a business and conference hub while 
holding onto its family holiday image 
■ Marketing heritage for tourism - e.g. Titanic Quarter - Southampton 
■ Themed events including music festivals - Reading 
● Leisure and Sport - London Olympics  
○ Sport attracted inward investment and external funding as well as creating new green spaces 
○ This strategy brings in associated jobs, infrastructure and buildings but also as a catalyst for longer term 
regeneration 
■ See case study notes 
● Public/Private Rural Diversification (Powys Regeneration Partnership) 
 ○ Some fars use a diversified activity in their farming business to boost income - dependent on location, land 
type etc. 
○ Grants are available through Defra. The EU has a policy of helping diversity through the Common Agricultural 
Policy 
○ The National Trust is also influence as the 2nd largest landowner in the UK 
○ Diversification can include: 
■ Agricultural based - producing speciality cheeses, farming unusual animals (Deers, llamas), growing 
non food crops or energy crops (rapeseed oil) 
■ Non-agricultural based - redundant farm buildings turned to officers, campsites building. Motocross, 
car boot sales sites may also be developed. Wind and solar farms also feature 
■ Environmental schemes - funded by Defra which includes planting in woodland - administered by the 
Forestry Commission 
● POWYS Regeneration Partnership 
● Funded by the Welsh Government and the EU 
● GRants of over £4 million helped 310 businesses and community projects 
● Powys council aim to use projects such as sustainable tourism, farm diversification etc. 
● Better investment in ICT has already started, installing two new broadband masts to 
address black spots 
● The Green Investment Bank is making £1 billion of finance available for research and 
development for low carbon technology and to to encourage renewable heat. 
 
Rebranding strategies 
 
Rebranding: The marketing aspect of regeneration designed to attract business, residents and visitors 
Reimaging: Making a place more attractive and desirable 
 
The media is used to improve the image of both urban and rural locations and make them more attractive for potential 
investors. 
 
● In urban areas, taking advantage of historic Victoria industrial heritages sites are one strategy; in rural 
areas,historical and literacy refers to how the place was portrayed in the past.  
● Sometimes rebranding might simply be the change in name of a city - e.g. Chennai used to be called Madras 
● Books, film music or art may incorporate a representation and meaning for place 
● How I met your mother - a TV sitcom idealises life in the large city where characters still have enough energy to spend 
the evening in bars. 
 
For UK deindustrialised cities, rebranding can stress the attraction of places, creating specific place identity building on their 
industrial heritage; this can attract national and international tourists and visitors 
 
● A mix of sports, leisure and cultural catalysts have been used to stress the attraction of places. Improvements to 
infrastructure and physical environment are key to success in creating a place identity. 
● Often urban areas build on industrial heritage. 
● Between 04-13, Scotland with Style rebrand aimed to attract trade into the city. 
○ There Were new hotel chains, conference centres, flight routes etc. 
○ Its achievements include the UEFA Cup Final in 2007 
○ In 2014, Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games resulting in £390 million being injected into Glasgow’s 
economy, supporting 2100 jobs and reducing youth unemployment 
○ The facilities are now being used by the public and will be reused for future events - such as the Sir Chris Hoy 
Velodrome, Emirates Arena 
 
 
Rural Rebranding strategies  
 
● Based on heritage and literacy associations 
○ Bronte Country  
❖ The Pennine HIlls in Yorkshire are through to be inst[praiton of the Bronte sisters including works 
like Wuthering HEights 
❖ It is marketed to attract visitors and revenue 
❖ Haworth - where the sisters were born - has become a hotspot for tourists 
● Farm diversification 
● Specialised products 
○ Outdoor PUrsuits and adventure in both accessible and remote areas 
○ Kielder Forest 
■ An outdoor nature playground 
■ Keiler is a remote area in Northumberland 
■ IT changed dramatically after the largest coniferous plantation in the 1930s 
■ The forest park attracts 345,000 visitors annually 
■ It generates revenue from car parking and the facilities on site 
■ Kielder has rare red squirrels   
EQ4: How successful is regeneration? 
Measuring success of regeneration 
 
● Economic 
○ Relative and absolute changes to areas and comparison to other more successful areas can measure 
generation 
○ Income 
■ Schemes involving an immediate job focus other than a construction phase will generate an initial 
rise in income 
■ If incomes have risen then this points to success, however, if only certain groups have benefited this 
may be relative 
○ Poverty reduction 
■ Relates to a short term increase in household income but a longer term investment in educational 
investment 
○ Employment 
■ Regeneration may provide new employment strategies but outsiders may take the jobs more easily 
● Social 
○ Social progress can be measured through a reduction in inequality 
○ This could be through measures of deprivation 
○ Demographic changes: Life Expectancy improvements 
● Environmental 
○ Success can be measured through an improvement in the living environment  
■ Levels of pollution reduced 
● The IMD measures air quality through concentration of four pollutants NO​2​, Benzene, SO​2 
and particulates in its Living Environment Deprivation 
■ Reduction in abandoned and derelict land 
● The local environment could have access to more open,green space within walking distance 
of home and the quality of local areas 
● Regeneration that focuses on better transport links, upgrading retail space, parks etc will 
have positive impacts on health and draw people to live there 
● Traditionally dereliction is associated with ex manufacturing areas and redundant 
infrastructure. Although unused buildings can be found in other places such as in the 
countryside through redundant diaries and barns 
● CPRE argued that 1 million new homes could be built on brownfield sites in England alone 
 
Varying views on regeneration depending on stakeholders 
 
Sustainability Quadrant 
 
Being closer to knowledge rather than resources is now a primary driver of growth 
 
Equity  Futurity 

Environment  Public Participation 

 
 
According to the Conservative government, successful regeneration refers to achieving economic, social and environmental 
outcomes that would not otherwise have occurred. 
 
Case Study: Regeneration in Plymouth 
 
● Plymouth has direct access to the English Channel 
● STrategic importance means it was heavily bombed during the second WW and many of the buildings had to be rebuilt 
● The economy now relies on innovate services and cultural sector 
● Plymouth University has 27,000 students - the city has placed a strong focus on education with new university 
buildings 
● Plymouth Hoe, a huge green space overlooking the Channel is a popular space for MTV and other music events. 
 
Success? 
 
● 90% of homes are in council tax bands C, B, and A - reflecting low wages and aspiration 
● Working class residents have not been forced out of their homes when Devonport was regenerated 
● House prices have remained affordable  
● Due to its affordability, many new graduates decide to stay in the city, living in the idyllic waterfront location 
 
Stakeholders Views 
 
● Local MP 
○ “Fairly successful with inward investment” “12,000 people are now employed”. “Call centres area fast 
developing sector employing over 4000 people” 
● Rural Resident 
○ “Appart from Drake Circus, the rest is depressingly run down and there is little to make me want to move 
in” 
● University Graduate 
○ “There are no suitable jobs in Plymouth for me to come back to” “I will have to look to bigger cities like 
Bristol or London 
● Plymouth resident 
○ “Purpose built places like that are filled with middle class shops and shofers that offer little for the rest of 
us” 
 
Measuring success using a range of economic, social, demographic and environmental variables in an urban area - The London 
Olympics 
 
● Economic 
○ £12 billion injected into the national economy 
○ The ORbit Giant structure has underperformed. There are plans however to reduce entrance fees and add a 
giant slide to attract visitors 
● Social 
○ 10000 new homes, 2 primary schools, 1 secondary school, 9 nursaiers, 3 health centres etc 
○ More affluent incomers may bring better standards of education and services 
○ Austerity cuts to local authority and school budgets have limited facilities and training 
○ Gentrification has mixed benefits 
■ 2800 homes were converted from the original tatherlet flats 
■ Entry level prices however were £250,000 for a three room apartment - making it unaffordable 
● Environmental 
○ 2.5km​2​ of brownfield land and wetland restoration along the River Lea 
○ 300 buildings demolished 
○ 100 hectares of open green space were created 
 ○ New housing is a zero carbon and more water efficient in design 
 
Various players involved 
 
● National Government 
○ Longest term national goals take priority 
● Local Council 
○ Have a duty to tackle inequality in their communities 
○ Make local planning decisions 
○ Balance economic, social and environmental needs 
● Develoopers 
○ A profit is required from an economic standpoint 
○ They provide the funding for schemes 
● Local business 
○ Views can be polished - those expecting an increased customer base from regeneration will differ to those 
threatened by it 
○ Chamber of Commerce may give majority viewpoints of business leaders 
● Local communities 
○ May lobby councils 
○ Vote for local and national political parties 
○ Form pressure groups and start NIMBYISM movements 
 
Regenerating Rural Areas 
 
● The Egan Wheel is a technique used to measure success in rural 
settings 
● It includes measures on government,e services, environmental, 
equity, services, economy, housing and the built environment, 
transport connectivity and social and cultural aspects 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Case Study: The North Antrim Coast 
 
● Area was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1986 due to its unique geology and striking landscape 
● Tourism 
○ Plans to develop a £100 million golf resort were disputed in court for more than a decade before being 
approved in 2013. 
○ The National Trust and UNESCO though the landscape would change inappropriately - despite the potential 
job creation from its proposed facilities 
○ The proposal however was never able to raise its necessary finances 
● Rural Diversification project 
○ £8.5 million was given to support rural business 
● Transport Improvements 
○ Village renewable; provision for childcare, youth and elderly population  
○ Park and Ride bus link from Bushmills increases visitors but perhaps pat the carrying capacity of the site 
 ● The Key players include 
○ National Trust 
○ Moyle District Council 
○ Local farmers 
○ Translink 
○ Renewable energy companies 
○ Local hoteliers and restaurants 
 
Various opinions 
 
● Locals  
○ Believe tourists dominate and are ruining neibhournliness because they only stay seasonally 
○ Increase in traffic pollutes the air 
○ Buildings ruin scenery 
 
Specific players in rural areas involved include farmers, landowners, and the government's Defra.   
 
Varying views on using the Hudswell, Yorkshire greenbelt for housing 
 
● Kirklees Council 
○ Pro as 500 homes could have been created 
● Church on the Chidswell cite 
○ Huge profit for the Church of England 
● Construction firms  
○ Proposal for 400 homes mannat big profits 
● Labour Councillor 
○ Traffic congestion and infrastructure strain 
● Local NABIQASIM Group - Chidswell Action 
○ Happy for some but not a huge number of houses. 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Shaping Maidstone 
 
Influences 
 
● Regional 
○ Maidstone Borough Council is a key player in the development of regeneration projects 
■ 40% of all new buildings will be affordable 
■ Maidstone has a nightlife worth £75 million - the largest late night retail hun in Kent providing 
jobs for 4000 people 
■ £100 million Fremlin Walk project was voted one of the top 10 South East Shopping Centres in the 
SOuth East 
■ The Eclipse Park is a economic zone created to attract investment into Maidstone 
● Aims to deliver 400,000 sq ft of office space 
● The area was picked as its readily available, and provided quality skilled employees - 
Towergate will provide 250 jobs alone 
■ Maidstone now has a reputation for “business excellence” 
○ Other regeneration projects include: 
■ Fremlin Walk - redevelopment of Fremlins brewery site in MAidstone - brining in high class stores 
like House of Fraser, Zara, H&M 
■ The High Street  
■ The Kent Library and HIstory Centre is situated on what was unused council land. It aims to make 
Maidstone A CUltural leader 
● National 
● It was picked due to its excellent road and transport links from the site which provide 
fast access to London and the rest of Kent - being only 30 minutes from Ashford 
International 
■ ASB Law is one of the largest regional law firms in the UK who have set up in Eclipse Park, They 
picked the location for the environment and wanting to be part of MAidstone’s knowledge based 
economy and enjoyed working with other strong professionals in the Area 
■ Gallagher Stadium was regenerated by Gallagher a national civil engineering company. The site 
used to be owned by the Ministry of Defence but was derelict - Hiring of the pitch brings in £12000 
a year 
■  
● International 
● At the Eclipse Park, Towergate, Europe's largest insurance intermediary will occupy the 
first building 
Evidence that regeneration is needed 
 
● 6.1% Unemployment Rate 
● Youth Unemployment is up by 20% 
 
Shaping Liverpool 
 
● Regional 
○ In 2006, local companies Langtree and Mclean announced plans to build 1000 new homes and to restore the 
graders created for the International Garden Festival 
○ Liverpool City Council 
■ Liverpool One 
● Shopping Centre thought to be one of Liverpool's’ largest flagship regeneration projects 
● IT meant 160 stores as well as leisure and dining opportunities 
● Liverpool has a potential catchment of 1.8 million people 
 ■ Eldonian Village 
● New build housing for the people of Vauxhall where there was high unemployment but 
strong sense of community 
● 145 homes were built and set at angles so that every home was overlooked as a form of 
crime prevention, FAcilities included a village hall, sports centre etc, 
■ Project Rosemary 
● Built on land previously contained by railway sidings 
● Through Government funding, Liverpool university and the local authority, a new hospital, 
a new hall of residence and some new housing was built 
● National 
○ Merseyside Development COrporation was driven by the government 
○ International Garden Festival 
■ Held in 1984 
■ Revitalise tourism 
■ FEstivate was very popular attracting 3.3 million people 
■ The festival was held on derelict industrial site 
■ Included a light railway system and a statute of John Lennon 
○ Albert Dock 
■ Flagship project for the MDC 
■ Heritage regeneration as the history of Liverpool was celebrated 0eg The Merseyside Museum 
■ IT brought quality apartments with river views and city centre 
■ It included Tat Gallery, TV studios, restaurants ,bars acting as a coutris restaurant 
■ The attractions brings in 6 million people 
■ However the local people cannot afford the apartments 
○ King Waterfront 
■ 10,000 seat Arena 
■ Hosted events such as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year  
■ Included hotels, retail outlets and apartments next to the area 
○   
● International 
○ UNESCO declared Liverpool’s waterfront as a World Heritage Site 
○ £200 million ChinaTown Project 
■ Meant to create Chinese energy transplanted into the heart of a historic world heritage city 
■ Property is being marketed in China and Hong Kong for as high as £546,000 
■ The project includes residential, commercial and retail space 
■ The area will be a home for Chinese businesses wishing to establish themselves in the UK 
■ Joe Anderson the mayor is beyond happy as the city has not even come close to realising its 
potential 
○ The European Capital of Culture 
■ 9.7 million additional visits specifically influenced by the Capital of Culture 
■ Generated £750 million across the North West in 2008 alone 
Evidence that regeneration is needed 
 
● Deindustrialisation 
○ Competition from abroad and declining shipping movements to the AMericas and the old british Empire 
meant lots of redundancies 
○ The docks were too small and shallow for modern container shipping meaning the older docks were 
unsuitable 
● Unemployment grew as fewer dockers were required. This led to lots of derelict and run down areas 
● In the 1980s, the UK was hit again with a recession leading to the Toxteth Riots 
● Liverpool had become one of the poorest cities in Europe 
● 50,000 redundancies in the 1975078 era led to massive out migration and environmental degradation in many poorer 
areas of the city 
● Has one of the lowest life expectancies in the UK - 76 for men 
 
● UK’s connections developed mainly through the British empire has lead to increasing diversity in the UK 
● There has been a dramatic increase of Eastern Europeans after the Accession 99 countries joined the EU in 2004.  
● This has put increasing strain on school places and the attitude of people towards diversity - particularly amongst 
unemployed people who believe they have lose their jobs as a result of increased competition 
● LGBT and civil right movements have been expressed through art of music genres and in parts of London 
● Attitudes on changes range from cultural erosion to enrichment) 
 
How perceptions of Liverpool and Maidstone differ 
 
● uSwitch ranked the Best Places to Live in the UK Quality of Life Index 
● Liverpool is 110th (out of 138) best place to live 
○ Only 59% of the population is employed 
○ Incomes are above average - however, disposable income is very low 
○ Houses are fairly inexpensive in Liverpool 
○ Much faster than average broadband speeds - 27.8 Mbps 
● Kent is the 103rd best place to live 
○ 74% of people work 
○ Income is higher than average - however its not very high for the South East 
○ House prices are very high when compared to UK wide in the statistical region  
○ Life expectancy is higher than average 80 for men 
○ Kent does not have good mobile phone coverage for a place in the London catchment area  
 
● Maidstone Perception 
○ In favour 
■ Mini London in the garden of England 
■ Close proximity to London 
■ 70% of people said they lived in a good okay place 
■ 83% of people though shops, museums and restaurants were excellent 
■ ⅓ of local residents feel they have a day in local decisions 
○ Against 
■ Complains about the needles left behind in public toilets 
■ Car parking and public toilets are a the biggest concerns 
■ Most people believe that there has been improvements in how the council run services 
● Liverpool Perception 
○ In favour 
■ Image is changed after being awarded the European Capital of CUlture 
■ It used to be positive in the 1960ss thanks to the Beatles 
■ Now presented as a contemporary city with a vibrant cultural life that reaches beyond football and 
music 
■ 99% of visitors to the city liked the atmosphere  
○ Against 
■ Often associated with social deprivation