Demolition for development: a critical analysis of official urban imaginaries in past and present UK cities

Mah, A. (2012) Demolition for development: a critical analysis of official urban imaginaries in past and present UK cities. Journal of Historical Sociology, 25(1), pp. 151-176. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6443.2011.01406.x)

Abstract

This article analyses official urban imaginaries of “demolition for development” in two different UK cities and time periods: 1) the City Improvement Scheme in Birmingham (1875–1914) during a time of rapid industrial growth, and 2) a housing-led neighbourhood regeneration scheme in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne (2000–2011) during a time of post-industrial uncertainty. The concept of the “official urban imaginary” is employed to critically examine assumptions of growth, progress and success within “demolition for development” policies across different times and places. Drawing on both historical and sociological qualitative case study methods, this research contributes to a range of debates on urban regeneration, gentrification, creative destruction, comparative methodology, and imagining the city. The article argues that there is a serious need to rethink urban policy trajectories of property-led regeneration and “planned gentrification”, particularly in the post-2008 context of recession.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mah, Professor Alice
• Authors: Mah, A.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor; H Social Sciences > HM Sociology; H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Journal of Historical Sociology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0952-1909
• ISSN (Online): 1467-6443
• Published Online: 14 November 2011
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• First Published: First published in Journal of Historical Sociology 25(1):151-176
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy