{"id":36,"date":"2010-02-12T09:52:05","date_gmt":"2010-02-12T09:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leedscd.wordpress.com\/?p=36"},"modified":"2010-02-12T09:52:05","modified_gmt":"2010-02-12T09:52:05","slug":"the-failing-policy-of-economic-cleansing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2010\/02\/12\/the-failing-policy-of-economic-cleansing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Failing Policy of Economic Cleansing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"bridge<\/a><\/p>\n

The fortunes of Clarence Dock and Holbeck have long been intertwined. \u00a0Clarence Dock was a major transport hub in Leeds, where coal to power the heavy industry in Holbeck was brought in by canal barge from the coalfields of Yorkshire.<\/p>\n

The decline of heavy industry in Holbeck led to the decline of Clarence Dock and most of Leeds – south of the river.<\/p>\n

But over the last decade Clarence Dock has been ‘regenerated’. \u00a0According to one website<\/a> it is<\/p>\n

1.2 million sq.ft. of pure attraction. Clarence Dock is Leeds\u2019 most exciting and largest mixed-use destination. Adjacent to the Royal Armouries the \u00a3250 million development has literally transforming the city\u2019s waterfront creating a modern, vibrant and innovative urban destination.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(Glad to see that the money has gone into proper activities like planning and building rather than copy writing and proof reading!)<\/p>\n

Holbeck too has had the benefit of massive regeneration. \u00a0In the order of \u00a3800 million of investment from the public and private sector to create Holbeck Urban Village<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Poised to become one of the most dynamic business and residential developments in the UK, Holbeck Urban Village is more than just another development.<\/p>\n

A pioneer of urban regeneration, Holbeck Urban Village, will set new standards in sustainable development creating over 5,000 new jobs in the high value digital and creative media sector.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The language is interesting. \u00a0No ifs, no buts. \u00a0Bold, assertive and powerful. \u00a0No caveats about ‘economy permitting’.<\/p>\n

Both developments are at the crossroads. \u00a0The websites may describe them as vibrant and dynamic but the\u00a0reality\u00a0is that\u00a0they\u00a0are in danger of becoming modern day ghost towns. \u00a0Shops going out of\u00a0business and office space standing empty. \u00a0‘Lively Piazzas’ standing lifeless.<\/p>\n

But just imagine that all had gone to plan and that a vibrant economy had allowed\u00a0these\u00a0developments to soar with the eagles? \u00a0Ok we may have been looking at a sustainability nightmare and the already dreadful traffic problems might have been exacerbated. \u00a0But think of the jobs! \u00a0Think of the money! \u00a0Think of the GDP! \u00a0Think of the ever increasing\u00a0value\u00a0of the real estate!<\/p>\n

And think about who would have\u00a0benefited\u00a0most? \u00a0Certainly not people who have for generations lived in and around the area. \u00a0Because this sort of development works (IF it works) by economic cleansing. \u00a0It works by attracting vibrant, creative and skilled people to shiny, happy places to work and live. \u00a0Our ‘gain’ is another communities loss. \u00a0It is a ‘zero sum’ game.<\/p>\n

And as the land\u00a0values\u00a0are driven up, long standing local businesses are forced out. \u00a0When the cost of land south of the river was low it made good sense to brew beer on \u00a0a large scale. \u00a0It made sense to build a supermarket headquarters with low rise buildings and large car parks. \u00a0There was plenty of space and not many others looking to move in. \u00a0But this is regeneration. \u00a0We economically cleanse the area of those who cannot generate enough GDP for the space that they take up.<\/p>\n

But economic cleansing is not just about business. \u00a0It is about housing too. \u00a0Land\u00a0values\u00a0and house prices are driven up on the edge of the city and justifications are made for further ‘regeneration’. \u00a0 Family housing stock (low rise with gardens) are replaced by high rise designer apartment blocks.<\/p>\n

The poorest are economically cleansed. \u00a0Driven from the\u00a0valuable\u00a0land even further into the margins of the city.<\/p>\n

But the stalled economy, and the stalling developments, offer us a chance to demonstrate a different\u00a0approach\u00a0to economic and social development. \u00a0One that works with\u00a0local\u00a0communities instead of replacing them with the ‘creative classes’. \u00a0Perhaps we can challenge the basically unsustainable short cuts to economic development with sustainable long\u00a0term\u00a0approaches\u00a0to community development.<\/p>\n

Instead of ‘bankrupting the club’ in vain\u00a0attempts\u00a0at ‘Going Up A League’, perhaps we can start to seriously and strategically address the challenges of ‘Narrowing the Gap’?<\/p>\n

My question? \u00a0Are community development\u00a0professionals\u00a0capable of offering a real alternative?<\/p>\n