changing places

place

somewhere with meaning

placelessness

somewhere that could be anywhere eg. airport

space

geographical location with no meaning

what makes a meaningful location

John Agnew - location, locale and sense of place

location

where it is on the map

locale

settings where everyday life activities occur eg. office or home

sense of place

subjective, personal and emotional attachment to a place

Glastonbury eg for location/locale/sense of place

location - country of Somerset

locale - unique character, visitors attractions

sense of place - spiritual importance eg religious connections, music festival each year

community cohesion

parks, open spaces, sports clubs, allotments, pubs

shared spaces

street/space designed to improve pedestrian movement and comfort by decreasing dominance of motor vehicles.

Enabling all users to share space rather than follow clearly defined units = makes it more inclusive.

eg removing curbs - Oxford Westgate

pros of shared spaces

inclusive, aesthetically pleasing, reduced wait times, quick+easy to build, less ‘roadside clutter’, easier for wheelchair users

cons of shared spaces

dangerous, stressful, confusing, congestion, time to adjust, difficult for emergency vehicles, difficult for visually impaired, especially dangerous for people with disabilities

ways of deterring homeless

benches not allowing laying down, spikes under bridges, playing loud music eg high wycombe

endogenous vs exogenous factors

endogenous = inside/internal factors

exogenous = outside/external factors

endogenous factors contributing to character of a place

land use, topography, socio-economic characteristics, location, built environment, demographic characteristics, infrastructure, physical features

endogenous factors: land use

Yorkshire - one of the most important producers of cereal crops

endogenous factors: location

Port Isaac harbour - by the sea, cutesy

endogenous factors: socio-economic characteristics

Cambridge - easy to find a job (research opportunities)

Surrey - healthiest place in UK

Peterborough - unhealthiest place in UK

Westminster - highest crime rate in UK

endogenous factors: built environment

Bath - primarily georgian style buildings - made of local golden rock

endogenous factors: demographic characteristics

London - one of moth ethnically diverse/multicultural cities in the world

endogenous factors: infrastructure

London - railway, 270 underground stations, 6 airports

endogenous factors: physical features

Oxford - river used for punting

dialect

particular form of language with is peculiar to a specific region or social group

can be a qualitative source that tells us about a place

topography

type of rock, steep or flat terrain, soil fertility (rock influences materials/nutrients in soil), drainage (impermeable/permeable)

attachment to a place

influenced by depth of knowledge and understanding of a place, increases with age, quality of experience influences attachment - more enjoyable means feel safer and then more attached

place identity

place can intertwine with identity, develops form memories/thoughts/values/settings

localism

emotional ownership of a place, not political

regionalism

loyalty to a nation or region with a population that shares similarities

nationalism

loyalty/devotion to nation - creates a sense of national consciousness. eg patriotism

place identity eg West Hollywood

identity linked to gay men - 1984 protection from gay-bashing and fight discrimination. Helped shape identity of gay people themselves

attachment to place helped gay identity to be seen as a kind of ethnicity rather than a sickness

belonging

key factor that makes a place sustainable and successful

Being part of the community

topophilia

the love that people feel for particular places

can be a part of a persons/groups cultural identity

topophobia

dislike or fear of a place due to intense negative experiences there

genius loci

term used to describe the key characteristics of a place

insider vs outsider: place of birth

insider - born there of their parents born there

outsider - not born there, an immigrant or parents/grandparents were immigrants

insider vs outsider: status

insider - permanent residence, holds a passport for that country, can vote, can claim benefits eg free housing/healthcare

outsider - temporary visitor, holds foreign passport, maybe not able to work/vote/claim, may be travelling for business/needing work/pleasure/safety

insider vs outsider: language capability

insider - fluent in local language

outsider - not fluent, may not understand local idioms/slang

insider vs outsider: social interactions

insider - understands unspoken rules of the society, conforms to local norms

outsider - may misunderstand social interactions

insider vs outsider: state of mind

insider - safe, secure, happy, feels in place

outsider - homesick, alienated, feels out of place

___% of annual visitors to the Lake District have been there before

85

at UK National Parks, less than __% of visitors were of a black or ethnic minority background

1

only _% of the Lake District population is young people ages 16-24

2

qualitative sources

• focus groups, interviews, reviews of documents

• subjective, descriptive, often more in depth data

• statistical tests can’t be used

quantitative sources

• surveys, structures interviews, numerical info

• stats tests can be used, number based, more info over a large number of cases, objective

• less in depth

exogenous factors

people - migrants/workers from outside a place, coming to live or work

capital - investment from a business based outside the area

resources - raw materials, transport infrastructure

ideas - urban planners, architects, businesses, artists

exogenous factors shaping character - Wendover

• distance from London, proximity to Chilterns

• fast train to London

• close to A41, leads to M25

• suggests area is popular with commuters

exogenous factors shaping character - Newquay

• airport - connects to other parts of the UK, allows flows of people/money/investment

• tourist hotspot - flows of people, second homes, provides jobs

near place

somewhere that an individual/society perceives as being physically close to

can also be from a sense of attachment

far place

somewhere that an individual/society perceives as being physically distant + generally inaccessible

beyond spatial distance, can be shaped by networks of infrastructure or access to them

can be from lack of attachment

experienced place

somewhere we have a connected to

sense of place has been developed

media place

somewhere we have opinions based on different media portrayals eg. film or books

Aylesbury media representation - BBC article canal murder

• took place in Aylesbury 2022

• in depth description of the crime, associates Aylesbury with murder

• creates dangerous sense of place

• suggests crime rates are high - may detract people from wanting to visit

Aylesbury media representation - Mumsnet

• online forum where people with lived experience give feedback

• overlook negative outlook on aylesbury

• complaints about bad traffic + described as not a nice place to live

• schools - complaints that non-grammar schools are awful and that your child is ‘screwed’

• only focuses on traffic/school - not representative of aylesbury as a whole

Aylesbury media representation - 1947 Charmian painting

• oil canvas painting of town centre

• bright colours show busy market - portrays as busy market town, suggests happy/vibrant area

• can be compared to more recent photos/paintings to show how environment/sense of place has changed over time

• paintings could be biased/unreliable as its the interpretation of one artist

Aylesbury media representation - Richardsons painting 2017

• depicts aylesbury town centre with a market - represents it as a busy + animated place

• can show the evolution of Aylesbury over time + be compared to photos

• view may be biased and sensitive to own interpretation

• implies sense of place through strong sense of community

Aylesbury media representation - A W Bridgemans painting

• painting of Aylesburys market square

• represents it as an old market town - shows the character

Aylesbury media representation - YouTube video

• visitor going around aylesbury and reviewing it

• represents aylesbury as nice, clean, inexpensive, safe place to live in - residents agree

• not biased - visitor coming with an open mindset, spoke to residents + seeing for himself

• only based on one day in aylesbury + doesn’t know all of the facts

• creates pleasant sense of place

Aylesbury media representation - ‘worst place to live’

• named this by a Bucks Free press article in 2021

• called it an ‘eyesore’ and that its a ‘concrete jungle’

• more recently changed - one of the ‘best places to live’ in buckinghamshire

Aylesbury media representation - BBC article on the bus station

• described as a concrete bunker full of diesel fumes and awful toilets

• well located for accessing town centre + providing good connectivity to the railway station

• doesn’t offer an attractive environment for users

• likely to deter locals from using public transport for issues of safety or cleanliness

• may deter people from coming to the area, especially school children as parents may be concerned for their safety

lived experience

personal knowledge gained through direct + first-hand involvement in everyday events rather than through representations constructed by other people

may refer to knowledge gained from face to face interaction rather from from technology

Aylesbury - Street Architecture + statues

• statue of 2 lions (1887) gifted to Aylesbury from Rothschild after being produced in Paris

• statue of 1911 MP for Buckinghamshire

• statue of Ronnie Barker outside Waterside Theatre - comedian from Aylesbury

Aylesbury - David Bowie Statue + petition

• musician that often visited Aylesbury

• played in Friars music venue in the early 70s

• statue = ‘earthly messenger’

• petition from Aylesbury residents to rename as ‘Aylesbowie’ as a tribute to him

Aylesbury - Old Town Residents Association

wanted to replace all the missing/worn down signs around aylesbury to old traditional signs in order to keep the character

Aylesbury - Buildings

• Kings Head Pub - where Henry VIII supposedly wooed Anne Bolyne'

• Council building - people hate it as they think its an eyesore so want it demolished

Aylesbury Central Ward - history + heritage

• Akeman Street built by Romans + left for the Saxons

• old town is predominantly Georgian in character

• 18th/19th centuries - family shops surrounded the square - creates warm/welcoming sense of place

• St Mary’s church believed to have been stood in Aylesbury since 12th century - parts of early structure still exist

• many ponds + waterways were inhabited with ducks - became local speciality ‘Aylesbury Duck’ also favoured by chefs due to rich flavour

Aylesbury - built environment

• Georgian style buildings in town centre built in 1700s - often features balanced designs and brickwork

• some Victorian buildings - fancy patterns, tall chimneys, clock towers

• some Palladian style - Crown court, big column, symmetrical design

• local clays and stones used - brownish sandy colour, red brick from high iron oxide content in clay from the Chilterns

aylesbury built environment - waterside theatre

• centrepiece for Aylesbury

• architecture aims to create a ‘forest of fins’ to echo the ancient woodland nearby

• stands on concrete base that rises/falls like a rollercoaster

• timber beams supporting the glass structure

Aylesbury - location

45 miles North West of London, only a 1hr train ride away

Aylesbury - topography

• consistently 69-100 metres above sea level

• very flat terrain, not much hills or mountains

• just outside of aylesbury there are more hills + steeper terrain

Aylesbury Central Ward - physical geography

very built up area in comparison to its surrounding rural areas/villages

recreational areas within the centre

Aylesbury Central Ward - land use

• housing, recreation, shopping etc

• now: garden town status, friars square has 40 shops and 5 cafes/restaurants

• regeneration plans - aim to deliver 16,000 new homes by 2033, market square set to be transformed as part of a £4.5 million public realm project

Aylesbury Central Ward - infrastructure

• bus station, train station, close to airports, cycle routes

• 65 bus routes

• university, colleges, 9 secondary schools, 17 primary schools

• theatre + cinema + hotels

• connected to wider highway network via the A41

• large supply of parking due to various car parks (around 4,500 total car spaces)

Aylesbury economic characteristics - average income

48k a year

Aylesbury economic characteristics - employment rate

85% are employed, majority within the public sector

Aylesbury economic characteristics - commuters

• can easily commute by train to London or Milton Keynes via bus

• 39% living in Aylesbury commute elsewhere for work - services/business may experience a decline

Aylesbury Kingsbury - demographic characteristics

• located in Aylesbury North

• 47% male, 53% female

• most of population in their 40s, smaller age group is 65-69

• more diverse than average UK - large groups of white + Indian descent

• larger than average concentration of residents in full time employment - 55% of permanent residents

Aylesbury Exchange - demographic characteristics

• located in Aylesbury North

• 48% male, 52% female

• majority are 45-49

• more diverse than average UK - only 68% of residents are white compared to 83% in UK

• 54% of resident population in full time employment

Aylesbury Market Square - demographic characteristics

• age group mostly 20-40 years old

• 65% residents born in the UK - significantly lower than UK averag

• 54% residents in full time employment

Aylesbury garden town status

awarded in 2017

offers chance that as the town grows, Aylesbury + its surrounding area will continue to be the best possible place to live, work and visit

Aylesbury Garden Town Plan - investments

• Uk government

• Homes England

• South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership

• Aylesbury Vale District Council

Aylesbury Garden Town Plan - what it plans to do

• make the most of the location

• promote excellence in design + planning

• improve the health + wellbeing of Aylesbury residents

• better connection with environment

• encourage people to walk or cycle

• adapting to change

Aylesbury Garden Town Plan - ambitions

• putting the town centre first

• smart + sustainable garden town distinctive garden communities

• green + healthy garden town

• innovation + investment hub

regeneration + redevelopment

• formal state + private sector attempts to change the fabric of a place

• often led by local or national policy

• attracting new economic activity + investment to an area and/or trying to stimulate local enterprise

• includes elements of social transformations eg. provision of new educational facilities or recreational spaces

• involves physical change to places - repurposing land for new initiatives, development of new housing, constructing new retail/leisure facilities

2024 average house prices - £____ in Aylesbury vs £____ England

343,248

290,000

Aylesbury Town Centre Regeneration Plan

• build on existing attractions such as the Theatre, Arts Centre, Country Museum, Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery

• become known for its street performance, film + art galleries, also high profile events/festivals eg. Roald Dahl Festival, Aylesbury Music Festival

• introduce vibrant live music scene in the town centre

Aylesbury Waterside South Regeneration Plan

• deliver education centre, 2 restaurants + a cafe

• create new public space as part of the education centre development - opens up the head of the canal basin to further access

• identify alternative/improved coach parking, drop off points, waiting areas for visitors to the theatre

• carry out remodelling of exchange tree, including underpass to vale park

Aylesbury Waterside North Regeneration Plan

• work with landowners eg. Buckinghamshire county council to develop masterplan for the site

• scope of the site, buildings/land to be included

• future use of buildings to be retained

• need for mixed-use scheme eg. restaurants, cafes, housing etc

• requirement for develop to provide flexibility + avoid displacement of services from other parts of the town

• desire to retain some prime town centre parking

Aylesbury upper and middle high street Regeneration Plan

create more attractive retail environment to improve connections between upper high street + exchange street

ensure both are part of the retail circuit + flow with the rest of the town centre

Aylesbury Old Town Regeneration Plan

preserve + enhance the residential area as a key part of the town’s heritage + culture offer + improve its links with the rest of the town centre, keeping with its conservation area status

reimaging

more than just creating new visual images of places

concerns how places are culturally constructed through art, photography, film, writing, performance

remaking

brings together physical, economic, social and cultural changes that a place might experience

includes attempts to regenerate or develop a place and how images of places are changed

rebranding

reinventing places for economic reasons

deliberate effort to market a place as desirable for investment and wealth creation

goes hand and hand with place making

first place

home

second place

work/school

third place

place with comfort/sense of belonging, ‘anchors of community’

eg. cafes, bars, stores, community centres, allotments etc

bring people and money + increase footfall

job opportunities → positive multiplier effect

sense of community - desirable place for people to go, increases footfall

allotments - community cohesion

gentrification

process where a character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, attracting new businesses

often displaces current inhabitants in the process

Gentrification example - London

• Balfron Tower

• people moved into temporary homes by council

• rebranding made it more expensive so residents couldn’t afford to move back

data collection techniques used in Aylesbury

questionnaire, EQI, photos, pedestrian counts, clone town survey, health on the high street, retail value survey, decibel readings, land use

aylesbury data - __% lived in aylesbury

60

aylesbury data - __% there for leisure, % for work, % for shopping

35.7, 35, 30