London's Paradox: Global Inclusion and Local Exclusion

Abstract

Using Stratford as a case study, this research aims to address the lack of consideration for creating affordances of coexistence between local and global communities within areas subject to large scale regeneration projects. This process of chance in favour of attracting more affluent residents can lead to the complete displacement of local communities to less favourable neighbourhoods, differentially affecting segregation levels of vulnerable local residents. Stratford is an area in East London, which has primarily been shaped by the forces of the first industrial revolution, but is ongoing major structural transformations that are accelerating the processes of deindustrialization, economic restructuring to a tertiary economy and gentrification; as a result traditional working class groups are driven out the area. Simultaneously, there is little comprehensive national design guidance; as a consequence the local government struggles to develop a design framework that can mitigate challenges related to these issues. Therefore, the aim of the research is to explore reconfiguration scenarios of a neighbourhood in Stratford with regards to creating affordances that both can integrate local and global communities. In doing so, the research explores and tries to understand the role of design as well. Before exploring the reconfiguration scenarios, the research starts with a dma (density, mix and access) analysis of Stratford area in order to understand its socio-spatial structure. Based on the analysis, three key areas were identified: the detached high street, the combined high street and the connected high street. Each high street typology has completely different dma values and therefore have difference performances and capacity for change. The analysis concludes with the fact that the detached high street has the most potential for development. Therefore, the design analysis reflects on how different strategies can create the affordance of coexistence located on the detached high street and its surroundings. The following three scenarios were developed: soft strategy, high street strategy and the super strategy. Each strategy will be reflected on how they change the dma values as well as their capacity to implement different development schemes and qualities. By means of design exploration, it became clear that choosing more obvious solutions such as soft strategies and corridor development completely neglects the social infrastructure surrounding the detached high street, as well as lack the capacity to allow the implementation of different development schemes (especially schemes that work as a buffer against gentrification). As a result, these strategies can have unwanted consequences such as the exclusion of local people in certain areas. The super mix strategy, however, has the potential to create an environment affording the coexistence of the global and local, but will be difficult to implement because it requires the development of more extensive types of schemes, thus requiring both inducements and regulation, partnerships with government and non-profit actors. Notwithstanding the thesis has showed there is great potential for development that includes both the local and the global, and therefore hopes to inspire London’s governmental and private actors to invest their time and effort in creating a regulatory environment that could allow strategies such as the super strategy.