Urban Stakeholders & Regeneration Success (Edexcel A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Regeneration Strategies
In urban areas, where population density is higher, regeneration strategies are often judged against social indicators e.g.
The well-being of residents
The narrowing of any gaps in inequality
The regeneration of Salford Quays
The regeneration of Salford Quays
Background |
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Housing |
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Transport / Facilities |
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Employment |
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Other investment |
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Due to the regeneration initiated by Salford City Council (a key stakeholder), Salford Quays has become a desirable residential location with a growing population
Problems and conflicts have arisen due to the regeneration:
Almost a third of Salford's existing population live in highly deprived areas
10,500 people live in places of extreme deprivation in Salford, whilst some neighbouring areas have the highest levels of growth
New housing is not affordable to the majority of locals
In 2020, two-bedroom apartments in The Lightbox (a new MediaCityUK development) were on sale for £325,000
The bottom 20% of workers in Salford earn £16,894 per year
In 2012, it was reported that only 24 of the 680 new jobs at the BBC in Salford had gone to local people
In 2013, local historians and local people were upset when two iconic industrial quayside cranes were demolished - one of the last icons of Salford's industrial heritage
As part of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) for Salford (2019)
Crime has increased - 16th most deprived English local authority out of 317
The greatest improvement for Salford has been in the health category, from 7th most deprived to 12th
The relative success of Salford Quays’ regeneration will therefore be viewed differently by individuals and groups of stakeholders e.g.
Salford City Council will view the job creation of Salford Quays as successful, but may not be pleased that the IMD Ranking has got worse
Existing residents will welcome the new affordable housing development at Pendleton and the improved environment, but will be displeased by all the extra traffic congestion and the new unaffordable housing
Local businesses will welcome the increasing population of wealthier, younger people to boost profits, but not if their business has had to relocate due to the regeneration
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is worth researching regeneration schemes, such as the 2012 Olympic site, to see if any further improvements or conflicts have taken place since the initial regeneration e.g. by 2036, more than 33,000 new homes will be built in the Olympic park, with a third of the housing being affordable
Worked Example
Study Figure 2 and suggest one way the writer of the blog presents a negative view of this attempt at regeneration.
[3 marks]
IMAGE
The specification focuses on perception and sense of place; you need to be able to use a range of sources of information to find out about contrasting views e.g. Photos, blogs
For this question, you need to use the text and/or the photograph to help say how the views of the blogger are conveyed
You need to make three linked points for these questions, rather than introducing a new idea
Answer:
The writer uses a harsh, sarcastic tone when describing this regeneration attempt by implying it is boring, “big and ugly”, whilst further suggesting that the only reason for this sculpture is for Siemens to advertise their products. This suggests that the regeneration has done little for the local people and more for the interests of Siemens and its investors.
Variables to Measure Changes
The success of urban regeneration can be judged using four variables:
Economic e.g. increasing average incomes and the number of better-paid jobs
Social e.g. reducing levels of deprivation
Demographic changes e.g. improving life expectancy and reduced health deprivation
Environmental e.g. reducing pollution levels and the amount of derelict land
The economic variable:
Is often the driving force of urban regeneration
National benefits sometimes are seen as more important than local views e.g. the national fracking debate
The social variable:
Any change should cater for the needs of locals as well as newcomers to the area
Locals should not be excluded or forced out of their area
The environmental variable:
Some residents may have to live in an area that has a poor environment, as they do not have the money to move
An enhanced environment will attract people to live, work or visit the place
The variable for demographic changes:
An increase in the proportion of younger, working-age people indicates that the area has more economic prospects or greater opportunities for tertiary education e.g. universities
A decrease in the overall numbers of any age group, in an area, is not a positive indicator
The regeneration strategy may have caused these groups to leave the area
Stakeholder Criteria for Success
Urban regeneration involves a wide range of stakeholders with different social, economic and environmental expectations and interests
Therefore the relative success of regeneration is often viewed differently by individuals and groups of stakeholders e.g.
Locals
Local government
National government
Developers (property, business)
Migrants
Local businesses
A stakeholder’s lived experience of a place can affect their judgement of urban regeneration and whether it has successfully changed the place, as well as the image of it.
Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Urban Regeneration
Stakeholder | Viewpoint | Roles | Possible success measures |
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National governments and planners |
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Local governments |
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Local residents |
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Local businesses |
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Developers |
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Worked Example
Explain how the viewpoints of players differ for urban regeneration
[6 marks]
Rather than briefly writing about four players, pick two or three groups and explain what their viewpoint is and suggest why they might hold these opinions
Better answers might discuss what has happened in named places, e.g. Salford or your local or contrasting place case study
To access Level 3, you need to include at least two reasons for different viewpoints
Answer:
The viewpoints of players differ for urban regeneration due to different social, economic and environmental expectations and interests of the regeneration scheme.
Some players, such as developers, will be motivated by economic interests, whilst social variables will not feature as highly for them due to not having a lived experience of the place. The developers will prioritise money over social aspects, as they will have invested a considerable amount of money into the regeneration scheme and will want to make as much profit as possible. For example, after the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Athletes’ Village was sold to Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company for £557 million. The company has transformed this area into the East Village providing over 2,800 homes for people. On average, properties are now worth £601,000 and rents begin at £1,750 per month for a studio flat. The East Village is now worth approximately 3 times what the company paid for it.
Other players, such as local residents, will be motivated by social interest. The local residents will want to see their quality of life improved, with more services and facilities, more affordable housing and a better environment. The environment was dramatically improved during the regeneration of Lea Valley for the Olympic Games as large amounts of derelict, industrial wasteland was transformed into cleaner, open spaces. However, some local residents were evicted from their homes to make way for the regeneration, such as Clay Lane Housing Estate. Gentrification subsequently increased house prices in the area, making them unaffordable for the original residents. To live in the Olympic Village after the Games, people needed to earn between £60,000 - £90,000 per year, whilst the average income for local residents was approximately £27,000. This has led to the destruction of the East London community and culture.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Not all stakeholders are equal at influencing the character and management of a regeneration scheme. Generally, national or local governments, alongside developers, will have the power and resources to influence the planned regeneration scheme. Local businesses and residents might be consulted about their views on the regeneration scheme, but not all these viewpoints will be considered in the final plans.
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