• https://www.nationalgeographic.

org/encyclopedia/gentrification/
Assess the importance of
different players in the
success of urban
regeneration. (8)
• Players include: local government, businesses, residents and
other individuals.
• There are a range of regeneration strategies that players are
involved in, e.g. sport, art, culture, heritage, technology, retail
and events.
• Urban housing schemes can be developed at a range of scales
(small to very large) and have increased landfill costs / amounts
for cities and authorities.
• Players may provide funding, ideas, networking, skills, plans /
planning, grant applications and take on the risks of
development
• Community (players) play a central role in delivering goods and
services and meeting local needs.
• Urban regeneration in many developed countries relies on
private capital, so is reliant on businesses (or individuals)
providing inward investment for particular projects or proposals.
• NGO and community groups play a role in improving housing
and services in slum areas in developing world cities, and
providing affordable housing and centres of commerce in
developed cities. They may also try to balance services with
housing, e.g. shops, schools and recreational facilities.
• Different roles will be needed according to local and project. For
example in some places government pump priming will be
essential to get the area clean ready for other businesses to
invest.
• Local interest groups may be very much against certain types of
development associated with urban regeneration and can
hinder or slow the process.
Assess the extent to
which large-scale
infrastructure projects
lead to successful urban
regeneration. (8)
• Large-scale urban regeneration infrastructure projects can be
developed for different purposes and have a range of different
design briefs.
• Example of large-scale infrastructure includes sporting events,
expos and tourism development as tools for regeneration.
• Large-scale projects are often used as a catalyst for additional
development and improvement. Often they are large cost and often
part funded by the state, which carries a risk in the shorter and
longer term.
• Sustainability may be an important aspect of some large-scale
projects. It includes social, economic, political as well as
environmental considerations, but there is much overlap between
the ideas so often they cannot be considered as discrete.
• Urban regeneration can also be achieved at a smaller scale, using
community based and localised schemes.
• Infrastructure projects are often focused around economic improvements,
rather than environmental or social returns since some schemes are
privately funded and shareholders want a return. Therefore, success is
mixed depending on who is considering the measure.
• Criteria for ‘success’ include jobs, new housing, environmental
improvements, improvements in services – but these may benefit some
people more than others (newcomers versus existing residents).
• Regeneration through infrastructure may not benefit all individuals and
groups within and area, so the “success” aspect can be met with mixed
response depending on stakeholders and individuals.
• Smaller-scale regeneration projects focus on improving communities
(housing, education and skills, employment opportunities) and increasing
local representation. Such projects with more of a social focus are often
significant tools in urban improvement. They may be more successful in
some instances.
Case Study: East London (Docklands)
• Why regeneration is needed?
Loss of the docks due to containerisation , this meant that
there was a loss of jobs in the area, particularly the men that
worked in the shipping industry.
During the 1950s and 602 poor tower blocks were built. These
were built to replace bomb damaged homes after the war, and
are now commonly used a state housing with high levels of
crime and deprivation.
Boats became too large to fit ad therefore couldn’t move down
the Thames. As a result the docks moved down stream where
the boats could access.
Between 1970 and 1980 there was 30,000 jobs lost, with in
1981 50% of the Docklands being derelict (1000 hectares).
Unemployment levels were at 21%, with males at 24%, which
was twice the national average.
There was inadequate transport links by both road and rail
meaning that people didn’t invest in the area as it couldn't be
accessed easily.
• How was it regenerated?
Method Explanation
 50,000 new homes have been built since 1981 with 8,000 local
authority homes being improved.
Housing  The building of the Silvertown Urban Village which is situated in
the Royal Docks containing 9,000 new homes
 The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) fined
Local in the late 1980s turning programmes to improve qualification
in the area.
Community  £20 million was spent on environmental and community
projects e.g. local parks and gardens
• How was it regenerated?
Method Explanation
 The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) opened in 1987, costing £73
million. It operates a full time service from Canary Wharf to
Lewisham.
 London City Airport opened in 1987 situated in the Royal
Transport Docks. It handles 4.3 million passengers a year, from 188,000
when it opened in 1987.
 The Limehouse link road cost £450 million and connects
central London to the Docklands. The LDDC also built bridges
to further improve access
 By 1988 600 hectares of land were reclaimed. Parks and
Environment riverside paths were developed, with old houses made to look
better. £300 million was spent on improving utilities.
•Key Players:
1. London Dockland Development Corporation - attracted
investment into the area e.g. HSBC. Physically regenerated
the city to have a new image (reimaging). Improved the
community e.g. living conditions and prospects.
2. Central Government - hoped plan and grant planning
permission.
3. Transport for London (TFL) - implemented the DLR and
Jubilee line links to the Docklands.
4. Crossrail - responsible for building new transport hub
connected either end of London by 2020.
•Was the regeneration successful?
The docklands now contains some the world biggest
banks including HSBC, Barclays and Merrill Lynch Bank
of America.
There is now 14 million square feet of office and
retail space. Many buildings include a canteen, gym,
etc. which helps businesses attract staff.
 In 2000 only 28,000 people worked there compared
to 105,000 people now working there.