BY OLLIE AND GEORGE

The government White Paper on Inner
Cities (1977)concluded that structural (economic) factors were the main cause of Inner City Poverty.
For the first time Inner Cities were defined as problem regions. It was argued that emphasis should be given to restoring the industrial base of the city from which other improvements would follow.

Securing the Economic Regeneration.
Improving the environment
Gearing Services and amenities to the local community.

SLUM CLEARANCE (1957-1974) o Comprehensive Redevelopment of the tenement areas (Govan, Gorbals and Royston) of the inner city which were cleared by bulldozers.
o Communities were broken up and relocated estates on the edge of
Glasgow

Peripheral Council Housing (1952-70’s)
Problems:
1. Highly dense housing (700 people per acre)
2. Poorly maintained - lack of basic amenities (50% without baths)
3. Infested by Vermin, mainly Rats.
500,000 people were moved to new towns such as Kilbride and
Cumbernauld

The GEAR Project (1976-87)
Policy:
To make everything more modern rather than knocking everything down and start again. To build 200 new homes, some newly built or others modernised from the existing ones. 300 new factories moved into the area

Transport
• Glasgow introduced a very ambitious transport policy that included building one of the few ‘urban freeways’, the M8
• Along with the increase in communications, commuting into the city and so some inner city housing became abandoned.

Deprivation
Even with all these planning policies there is some deprivation in Glasgow, as mentioned in the previous slide.
Many people believe that the long term unemployment will not be solved by the policies.
People say that the GEAR project along with others ignore the problems of social problems.

The GOVAN Initiative
Problems:
Factory closure, decline in housing, environmental damage (M8 motorway)
Solutions:
Small Scale Development, new businesses, environmental improvements (landscaping), education and training for resident workforce

The GOVAN Initiative Evaluation
The rebirth of the shipyards provided jobs for local workers.
Bottom up (lots of small scale local schemes) approach served the needs of the community.

The average Inner City 100 company grew 872% between 1998-2002, compared to 2003 list with average growth rate of 647%. (CAGR of 62% compared to 55% for 2003 list)
88% of businesses rate their innercity location as good or excellent

Businesses that have considered expanding or relocating their company, 99% are considering doing so in an inner-city area.