Changing spaces making places - Byker and Jesmond case studies

From section 1!!

What are Byker and Jesmond?

Byker and Jesmond are 2 suburbs of Newcastle that are 2 miles apart from each other

What % of people in Byker are unemployed?

48\.82%

What % of people in Jesmond are unemployed?

51\.58%

What % of housing is socially rented in Byker?

55\.49%

What % of housing is socially rented in Jesmond?

10\.15%

What % of housing is privately rented in Byker?

15\.77%

What % of housing is privately rented in Jesmond?

52\.56%

What % of people in Byker say they are in very good health?

40\.13%

What % of people in Byker say they are in very bad health?

2\.52%

What % of people in Jesmond say they are in very good health?

62\.75%

What % of people in Jesmond say they are in very bad health?

0\.74%

Describe Byker’s physical environment

\-on the River Tyne

\-in the east, so fumes + smoke from the centre of Newcastle would blow over Byker

\-not much green space

Describe Jesmond’s physical environment

\-more green space - Jesmond Dene

\-near/on the River Ouseburn

Describe the cultural nature of Byker

\-evidence of multicultural shops on Shields Road:

-the African hair shop

-the European mini-market

Describe the cultural nature of Jesmond

\-lots of places aimed at students:

-lots of student housing

-high end shops (Sweaty Betty, Oliver Bonas)

Describe the built environment of Byker

\-streets are very close together - high-density housing

\-more rough - anti-climb paint on houses in the Byker Wall

\-low order shops eg Morrisons, Poundland, Greggs

\-5/96 buildings on land use survey were derelict

Describe the built environment of Jesmond

\-high-density housing (but less high than Byker)

\-high order shops eg Oliver Bonas, Sweaty Betty

\-No dereliction

\-Private healthcare

\-Private schools eg RGS

What are the past and present connections for Byker that shape the place identity + embed them in regional, national and global scales?

The Byker Wall

\-built in the ‘60s + replaced rows of terraces from the 19th C that were for shipbuilders and dockworkers

\-has provided social housing to many low-income families for the last 60 years (which includes migrants and asylum seekers)

\-is nationally renowned

What are the past and present connections for Jesmond that shape the place identity + embed them in regional, national and global scales? (Lord A)

\-Lord Armstrong (wealthy industrialist) moved to Jesmond in 19th C + was attracted to the area because of Jesmond Dene

\-He built Jesmond Dene House - now converted into a hotel

\-Other wealthy families were attracted to the area because he moved there - lots of large townhouses were built there because the residents were businessmen and managers who had just moved to the area

-This set the tone for Jesmond being seen as an area where wealthy people live

What are the past and present connections for Jesmond that shape the place identity + embed them in regional, national and global scales? (Studentification)

\-Since Jesmond has a reputation for being a wealthy area, lots of students from wealthy families stay there while going to Newcastle uni → puts more money into the area

\-The influx of students causes studentification

\-The amenities available in the area will then change because students require different amenities to the families that used to live there eg 10.8% of services in Jesmond were coffee shops (eg Cake Stories)

\-The nature of the area will also change - there will be more noise, more unkempt gardens, student housing estate agents and lots of student bars

What is studentification?

Studentification is a social process which starts when some of the terraced houses in an area are made into flats, and then students will move into the flats. This then encourages other families to move out, which means more students can move in, and so there end up being lots of students in the area

How have shifting flows of people helped to shape the demographic and socio-economic profile of Byker?

\-there is lots of social housing in Byker, mainly in and around the Byker Wall

\-The original inhabitants of the Byker Wall when it was first built will have since been able to afford their own housing + they will have moved out → creates space for new tenants who need social housing

\-there has been lots of migration into Byker → these migrants have become the new inhabitants of the Byker Wall

How have shifting flows of people helped to shape the cultural profile of Byker?

\-cultural diversity of Byker is shown through its high street → lots of cultures are represented in the types of shops eg African hair shop and European mini market

\-this shows that there is a shifting flow of people in Byker as the high street caters to different cultures + ethnic groups, so there has clearly been an influx of migrants moving there at some point

How have shifting flows of people helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Jesmond?

\-the main flow in and out of Jesmond is students → shown by 52.56% of housing there being privately rented as this is due to the students

-this is a major flow of people as there are lots of students in Jesmond

\-the other major flow of people for Jesmond is business professionals

\-most of these business professionals will have been attracted to Jesmond due to its reputation + history as a wealthy area where lots of businesses move due to Lord Armstrong moving there originally

How have shifting flows of resources helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Byker?

\-River and docklands were massive employers for the people who lived in Byker for a long time (until their decline by 1984)

\-They provided jobs that involved lots of hard, physical labour but did provide people with a steady income + a job for life

\-When docklands closed, there was a big spike in unemployment → skills for this job weren’t very easily transferrable to another area of work

\-River and docklands (pre-closure) attracted people to move to Byker as they would be closer to their area of work

How have shifting flows of resources helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Jesmond?

\-There are lots of shops and businesses that use Apple Pay - the people in Jesmond are more likely to have access to the technology needed for Apple Pay (ie an up-to-date iPhone → would be less affordable for people in Byker)

\-Lots of internet cafes in Jesmond → they are appealing to the main group of inhabitants in Jesmond (the students)

How have shifting flows of money and investment helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Byker?

\-The Byker Wall was a massive investment + built lots of social housing in the area → this was a flow of money and investment into an area that used to just be rows of terraces

\-Karbon Homes branch near Byker Wall - deals with social housing - needed in Byker as over half of the housing tenure in Byker is socially rented

\-Launchpad is also involved there for similar reasons - this company helps the homeless and invests in council housing → this is needed there as 48.82% of people aged 16-74 are not in employment - council housing needed as otherwise these people would probably not be able to privately rent a house

\-Lots of TNCs and chain stores in Byker eg Wetherspoons, Greggs and Morrisons → there is a market for them in Byker as otherwise they wouldn’t stay there (not profitable)

How have shifting flows of money and investment helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Jesmond?

\-Quite a few private healthcare places - clinics such as Nuffield Health and Osborne Clinic

-shows that people in Jesmond want to access private healthcare as there are multiple areas that offer this → due to the wealthier population of Jesmond

How have shifting flows of ideas helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Byker?

\-International migrants who move to Byker bring different cultures - will have an impact on the shops in the area eg African hair shop + European mini market → shows the shifting flow of ideas

\-There are also some shops in Byker that exchange currency → due to international migrants wanting to send some of their wages back to family members who still live in their country of origin

How have shifting flows of ideas helped to shape the demographic, socio-economic and cultural profile of Jesmond?

\-There are links to Newcastle uni due to the large student population who live in Jesmond + commute to the uni