Urban RenewalUrban Renewal

Somewhere in a city near you….Somewhere in a city near you….

Rundown areas have been given a new Rundown areas have been given a new lease of life. lease of life.

This is called This is called urban renewalurban renewal

GLASGOW and the GLASGOW and the GORBALSGORBALS

The Industrial Revolution changed the character of the area. A grid layout of four-storey tenements grew up through the 1900s to house local factory and cotton mill workers.

By the 1930s it had a large population and lots of small shops and pubs. Overcrowding and poor maintenance led to the area becoming run-down.

Early History

Conditions in the GorbalsConditions in the Gorbals

Over-crowdingOver-crowding Poverty strickenPoverty stricken crime riddencrime ridden filthy and dampfilthy and damp More than 50% households had no fixed baths & hot More than 50% households had no fixed baths & hot

waterwater many shared an outside toiletmany shared an outside toilet High unemploymentHigh unemployment very poor standards of healthcare and education very poor standards of healthcare and education derelict land and pollutionderelict land and pollution

ActivityActivity

Explain what event led to the Explain what event led to the establishment of the Gorbalsestablishment of the Gorbals

What were conditions like in the Gorbals What were conditions like in the Gorbals by 1930?by 1930?

Run-down innercity areasRun-down innercity areas

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/history/subjects/history/britainsince1930s/society/britainsince1930s/society/slum_conditions_3slum_conditions_3

Short 1min clip interviewing lady on Short 1min clip interviewing lady on streets of Gorbals just prior to demolition streets of Gorbals just prior to demolition 

Images like Images like these paved the these paved the way for urban way for urban renewalrenewal

Urban renewalUrban renewal is a program of land is a program of land redevelopment. redevelopment.

Renewal has had both successes and Renewal has had both successes and failures.failures.

It involved demolishing the old tenement It involved demolishing the old tenement buildings. buildings.

What is urban renewal?What is urban renewal?

After demolition:After demolition:

1.1. New high rise flats were built in place of New high rise flats were built in place of the old tenementsthe old tenements

2.2. Residents were moved out to purpose Residents were moved out to purpose built estates on the outskirts of the city eg. built estates on the outskirts of the city eg. CastlemilkCastlemilk

Activity: Can you think of the advantages and Activity: Can you think of the advantages and disadvantages of both solutionsdisadvantages of both solutions

1900s1960s

Streets in the SkyStreets in the Sky

Streets in the SkyStreets in the Sky

High Rise Flats in Inner CityHigh Rise Flats in Inner City

Did the people decanted to these ''streets in the sky'' prefer them to the miserable Did the people decanted to these ''streets in the sky'' prefer them to the miserable slums from which they had escaped?slums from which they had escaped?

The flats had heating, indoor bathrooms and were warm and dry.The flats had heating, indoor bathrooms and were warm and dry. However they destroyed community spirit, people felt isolated often leading to However they destroyed community spirit, people felt isolated often leading to

depression,   the tower blocks were poorly designed, vandalism increased and depression,   the tower blocks were poorly designed, vandalism increased and there were pockets of high unemployment and crimethere were pockets of high unemployment and crime

Housing Estates on the outskirtsHousing Estates on the outskirts

While the residents were at first enchanted by the size of their new homes with While the residents were at first enchanted by the size of their new homes with their indoor bathrooms, and with the clean air and green fields around the estates, their indoor bathrooms, and with the clean air and green fields around the estates, they quickly realised how far they now were from the city centre, and how isolated they quickly realised how far they now were from the city centre, and how isolated they had become from friends and families.they had become from friends and families.

They had to travel to find work and this was expensive. They had to travel to find work and this was expensive.

Out of town estates like Out of town estates like Castlemilk and EasterhouseCastlemilk and Easterhouse

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Innercity Innercity Glasgow Glasgow (gorbals)(gorbals)

High Rise flatsHigh Rise flats

Out of townOut of town

New Housing New Housing estates estates

(Castlemilk)(Castlemilk)

Solutions to the run-down Solutions to the run-down inner cityinner city

How has urban renewal How has urban renewal changed over time?changed over time?

Initially large-scale Initially large-scale demolition known as demolition known as redevelopmentredevelopment was was carried outcarried out

Renovation of the old Renovation of the old tenements since the 1980stenements since the 1980s

More recently, existing buildings have been More recently, existing buildings have been renovatedrenovated. This is the . This is the new urban renewal. Tenements are modernised - sandblasted, new urban renewal. Tenements are modernised - sandblasted,

new windows, central heating, bathroomsnew windows, central heating, bathrooms

Urban regeneration under constructionUrban regeneration under construction

More More traditional traditional streets have streets have been created been created along with along with more open more open spacesspaces

Comprehensive Regeneration in the 21st Century

Recognising the mistakes of the 1960s, the emphasis now is on recreating more traditional streets and open spaces.

New developments re-introduce four-storey tenement housing, a new shopping street and large communal back garden areas.

Tackling UnemploymentTackling Unemployment

Severe unemployment is being tackled through the Gorbals Initiative, a local enterprise company, which provides access for local people to nearby job opportunities and stimulates the local economy.

All in all, great efforts have been made to make the Gorbals a vibrant, thriving community.

ActivityActivity

Why has renovating the old tenement Why has renovating the old tenement buildings and building similar new ones in buildings and building similar new ones in the inner city been much more the inner city been much more successful?successful?

What other efforts have been made to What other efforts have been made to regenerate the Gorbals area?regenerate the Gorbals area?

Urban decay in the 1980s

By the 1980s, the area had an air of neglect and dilapidation. The redevelopment of the area had stopped and the effects of poor building specification were apparent.

The population of the area was 85,000 in 1931. By 1952, this was down to 68,000. In the 1980s it had crashed to 10,000. Shops were difficult to keep going, schools were relocated or closed, and places of worship closed their doors.

In 1980, after a great battle and rent strike, the council bowed to tenant pressure to rehouse remaining tenants from flats riddled with condensation and water penetration. Options to refurbish were dismissed and 759 flats were demolished in 1987.

Once again, the area was in dire need of regeneration. The council had to find an overall strategy to reverse its decline.

The 1990sThe 1990s

1990’s 1990’s Glasgow is now recognised as a leader in showing economic and Glasgow is now recognised as a leader in showing economic and

physical renewal can be achieved. The following are examples of its physical renewal can be achieved. The following are examples of its achievements:achievements:

Transport Transport - Glasgow's airport capacity has been increased and a fully - Glasgow's airport capacity has been increased and a fully integrated transport network has been developed.integrated transport network has been developed.

Environmental ImprovementsEnvironmental Improvements - cleaning buildings, landscaping and - cleaning buildings, landscaping and developing parks and play areas.developing parks and play areas.

Housing Housing - 10,000 new homes built between 1990-1994 and extensive - 10,000 new homes built between 1990-1994 and extensive improvements have been made including the replacement of improvements have been made including the replacement of unsuccessful tower blocks and the gentrification of tenement blocks.unsuccessful tower blocks and the gentrification of tenement blocks.

Glasgow has also managed to promote and retain the Glasgow has also managed to promote and retain the success of its success of its city centrecity centre by developing shopping facilities in the CBD and avoiding by developing shopping facilities in the CBD and avoiding out-of-town shopping centres. By investing in people through training out-of-town shopping centres. By investing in people through training and skills, Glasgow has also managed to help reduce unemployment.and skills, Glasgow has also managed to help reduce unemployment.