Regeneration in Plymouth

Regeneration in Plymouth

1. Devonport

   • Initial high employment rate
     • After WWII and Cold War demand for ships + dockyard decreased
   • Manufacturing began abroad + unemployment increased
     • Maximum of 3000 people still employed
   • Unemployment resulted in decline
     • Deprivation, social, crime, alcoholism, drug abuse, ghettoisation
   • Mt Wise area very deprived
     • Unemployment reached 80%
     • Damp
     • Cars burnt out
     • Out of control youths
     • Houses dilapidated
   • 1989 - Christine Watts
     • Lead of women's group
     • Campaigned for grants
       • Awarded with £3 million in 1993 by EU
         • Evidence of redevelopment!
           • 50% of people returned to the area - architects worked with residents
             • Private gardens
             • Traffic free
             • Energy efficient buildings
             • Full time youth worker
   • 1999 - Further £10 million grant
     • 2001 - 'Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership'
       • £49 million grant from the government
       • Major improvements
         • Colourful + modern
         • Lots of windows in flats
         • Artwork + gates
         • Vegetation
         • Improved roads + pavement

2. Stonehouse, Royal William Yard

   • 1820s to support navy
     • Slaughterhouse
     • Bakery
     • Brewery
   • Area became derelict in 1950s
     • Was not allowed to be knocked down
   • Was bought in 1993 by Plymouth Development Co
     • Improved area then opened it to buyers
   • 1998 - RDE invested heavily
     • Converted buildings into flats, shops cafes and restaurants
       • Resulted in a mix of social classes
         • Created conflict
   • 2000 - Urban Splash bought + developed
     • Luxury flats, offices and accommodation
     • Sustainable community created
     • Use of water taxis to get into CBD

3. Mutley

   • On main road out of city
   • Originally large grand family houses
     • Substantial and well built
   • Located close to CBD + Train station
   • Bus routes nearby
   • Mostly Edwardian + Victorian houses
   • High street built in 1960s
     • Suburban shopping centre
       • Thrived until 1980s - out of town shopping centres affected it negatively
   • Most buildings now converted for student accommodation
     • Landlords + rent
     • It is close to the university
     • STUDENTIFICATION
     • 70% student populated
     • Cultural diversity has increased
     • Services + shops changed to make profit from students

4. Millfields gated community, Plymouth

   • Owned by wealthy people, private houses
   • Literal wall built around homes
   • Often converted from a previous building
     • In this case, an old hospital
   • Often retired/ late age people
     • Homogeneous
   • Reaction to multi-cultural societies
   • Extreme forms of segregation and division/ seclusion

5. Southway

   • Northern suburbs of Plymouth
     • Built in 1950's in an attempt to diversify economy since navy and MOD economy faded away
       • Workers would live near by factories
   • 6 miles from city centre
     • Was once countryside between SW and CBD
     • Isolated from rest of Plymouth
       • Some public transport but not much
   • Blocks of flats with large spaces between
     • Low density buildings
       • 65% terraced
     • Not energy efficient
       • Thin walls
       • No insulation
       • No double glazing
     • Flat roofs
       • Cheap
       • Popular + modern at the time
     • No direct vehicle access
   • Unemployment increased as factories go bust
   • Example of suburbanisation and brownfield site development
   • Mostly elderly population - 60-79yr olds
   • Educational attainment - avg of 5 A* - C grades