The impact of brownfield regeneration on neighbourhood dynamics: the case of Salford Quays in England

Abstract

Reusing brownfield land has been a key element of planning and regeneration policy in England for many years. While many sites are small and of local importance, there are a few major sites where reuse is expected to bring jobs and economic opportunities to a wider area. There has been a lack of longitudinal study that tracks the impact of such large-scale regeneration projects on neighbouring areas. This is partly due to data limitations and the short-term nature of most government-funded evaluation studies. One such site is Salford Quays, a canal harbour area in Greater Manchester, which fell derelict in the early 1980s. Since then a range of regeneration activities has taken place in the area, including the more recent strategic decision to locate part of the BBC’s broadcasting operations on the site as part of MediaCityUK. This paper aims to analyse the extent to which this investment has had a beneficial effect, with a focus on its workplace dynamics and social sustainability, on the regenerated area and its neighbouring areas, which are amongst the most deprived areas in England. The analysis uses a range of socio-economic indicators as well as innovative commuting-flow typologies to establish the spatial dynamics.

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