REGENERATION CASE STUDIES
San Francisco – a successful urban area
San Francisco has a reputation for economic energy, cultural vibrancy, and tolerance.
In the 1990s it became the focus of California’s new ‘gold rush’ when it became home to global
internet businesses such as Dropbox and Twitter.
Phenomenal job growth in STEM biotech, life sciences and digital media companies
Multiplier effect fuelled by its technological and transportation infrastructure, high quality of
life and highly skilled work force.
Drawbacks of the success:
‘Google effect’ of gentrification of districts alongside Google buses transporting workers to
Mountain View campus
This has created discontent from some established but less affluent, displaced locals
American Rust Belt – a less successful urban
area
In some regions (the Rust Belt, USA) economic restructuring has triggered a spiral of decline, which
includes increasing levels of social deprivation (education, health, crime, access to services and living
environment) in both deindustrialised urban areas and rural settlements once dominated by primary
economic activities.
Detroit
A city in the state of Michigan in the U.S.
Suffering from the impacts of deindustrialisation. Detroit was previously part of the Rust
Belt, a once powerful manufacturing region that centred mainly around steel/car production
but fell into decline due to automation and global shift
Impacts of the deindustrialisation
The population fell from 1.5 million in 1970 to only 680,000 by 2015 - a huge drop of over
50%
In 2015 it was estimated that there were around 100,000 abandoned homes and buildings in
the city
2014 – second highest murder rate of any US city
Life expectancy is just 69 years
Poverty rate = 38%
Severe shortage of public sector workers, who move away to better places, and the same is
true for skilled professionals
OVERALL DETROIT IS FACING A SPIRAL OF DECLINE
, UK deregulation of capital markets
Following the depression in the 1920s, the capital markets in the UK were under decades-long tight
restrictions in order to prevent a repeat.
However, in 1986, the Conservative led government began the process of deregulating financial
markets by introducing a policy known as ‘The Big Bang’.
What was the aim of The Big Bang?
- To encourage more investment
- To help the integration of electronic trading during its rise in the 1980s
- Stop London becoming uncompetitive and prevent the loss of business to other financial
centres
What did the Big Bang do?
- Ended the Stock Exchange’s monopoly
- Removed entry barriers
What were the impacts of the Big Bang?
- Encouragement of US and European Banks to open in London
- In 2008, banking, finance and business services created almost 30% of the UK’s GDP, which
was double that of 1986
- Skyscrapers in Canary Wharf are a visible image of new investment and prosperity
London Olympics 2012 (differing attitudes
causing conflict)
The 2012 Olympics in London accelerated regeneration investment into East London – especially
Stratford, where the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was built. Regeneration, legacy and sustainability
were emphasised as part of the London bid to the IOC committee.
Positive impacts of the regeneration:
Westfield Stratford built off the back of the Olympic bid, creating 10,000 jobs
9000 new homes built, as the Olympic Village was converted into more than 2,800 flats in 11
residential plots
New youth sport strategy for the UK invested £1 billion in youth sport over 5 years following
the Games.
Differing attitudes leading to conflict:
Clay Lane Estate was a housing cooperative built in 1977, creating a community for
vulnerable single people in Newham – but the site became designated for the Olympic
athletes village leading to compulsory purchase orders and 430 residents being forced to
move.
Several small businesses were also evicted from the Olympic site.
