Interesting things have been happening down at Granary Wharf in Leeds over the last few years. \u00a0It is a part of town I did know well. Some 25 years ago, when I was doing my Certificate in Education, I surveyed the site for its field trip and educational potential for teaching geography, history, science, environmental studies, design and biology.<\/p>\n
But these days the area is hosting a very different crowd to my Fifth Formers with clipboards and quadrants.<\/p>\n
With the development of City Inn, Candle House and a car park under the once vibrant dark arches the area is becoming another\u00a0beautified\u00a0waterfront development where those with access to cash can choose whether to invest or spend. \u00a0Both City Inn and Candle House offer spectacular views and the latter at least is a genuinely interesting piece of architecture (not that I am\u00a0qualified\u00a0to comment beyond my own personal aesthetic).<\/p>\n
Once the enormous ‘wem<\/a>‘ that is the Southern Entrance<\/a> to Leeds Station gets built I am sure that we will have yet another riverside development to be proud of. \u00a0The perfect infrastructure in which the magical process of regeneration can happen. \u00a0New life breathed into a barren wasteland by a consortium of socially aware developers, architects and planners with low carbon credentials and a commitment to community\u00a0consultation.<\/p>\n What is not to like?<\/p>\n Let’s assume that things go well. \u00a0Retail spaces around the dark arches fill (once again) with quirky, well capitalised, independent\u00a0retail and hospitality businesses. \u00a0The ticket barriers in the new southern entrance are a delight to use and lead to a train system that is clean, efficient and reliable. \u00a0The new apartment blocks fill up with resident’s who sustain sufficient incomes to pay their rents and mortgages. Dozens of jobs are created for\u00a0residents of the ‘southern rim’ with ‘high grade concierge’ and similar skills. Taxes are paid and redistributed. \u00a0Surely everyone is a winner? \u00a0And no doubt this development will be presented as phenomenal example of regeneration in Leeds at\u00a0MIPIM<\/a> further fuelling the cycle of regeneration.<\/p>\n But even in this optimistic scenario who benefits from the development of the city? \u00a0Who makes money? \u00a0Who has access to opportunities to broaden their capabilities and develop successful careers? \u00a0Who gets to play in the new waterside development? And who doesn’t?<\/p>\n Perhaps this video offers some clues?<\/p>\n [youtube=http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ee-g-8J0NOE]<\/p>\n ‘at least they’re honest about their vision of Leeds, and the intended beneficiaries’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Remarkable the control software gives over building surfaces, colours and textures yet public places are only populated (apparently) by shiny, happy and skinny Caucasians.<\/p>\n Now don’t get me wrong. \u00a0I am not anti development. Nor am I anti business. \u00a0And some of my best friends are architects, planners and property developers. \u00a0They are ‘good’ people, using their talents to the best of their abilities to build a better city. Just like most of us. \u00a0They play an important role.<\/p>\n But I do see a pattern of investment in regeneration that prioritises physical development and pursues shortcuts to increased GDP based on the importation of ‘talent’ rather than a genuinely inclusive investment in ‘proper’ education. \u00a0For me regeneration starts between the ears of the people who live in a community. \u00a0Not between the ears of a well meaning planner. \u00a0And it is not about engaging\u00a0locals in the visions of the anointed<\/a> – but rather finding ways to engage the anointed in the many, disparate and personal visions of local people.<\/p>\n (I know we are investing lots in re-developing our schools. \u00a0We now have academies in yet more new buildings. \u00a0We are getting more young people than ever 5 grades A-C that educationalists and politicians promise will provide some kind of magic key to the kingdom. But our schools and colleges continue to fail large swathes of the community.)<\/p>\n I don’t know what gets me more fired up – watching Sports Relief portray as some kind of failure of morality and civilisation children in developing countries both going to work and <\/em><\/strong>school, or the fact that we, here in the UK, now have millions of people NOT in education, training or employment. \u00a0Physician\u00a0heal\u00a0thyself. \u00a0It’s not as if we have magic solutions to export!<\/p>\n I do think we have got the balance of our regeneration investments badly wrong.<\/p>\n That we rely too much on ‘placemakers’ and imported talent to make our city work. \u00a0That we spend too much on strategic planning and not enough on\u00a0responding\u00a0to the real barriers that prevent people from developing their capabilities. \u00a0We may not be Mother Glasgow but perhaps we too are clipping wings?<\/p>\n