The Micro-Geographies of Studentification in Brighton and Hove
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THE MICRO-GEOGRAPHIES OF STUDENTIFICATION IN BRIGHTON AND HOVE JOANNA LOUISE SAGE PhD 2010 Abstract Studentification is increasingly recognised as a leading-edge process of contemporary urban change; identified in over fifty university towns and cities across the UK. Adopting a micro- geographic approach, this thesis investigates the unfolding processes and impacts of studentification in five case study locations within Brighton and Hove City, UK, and intersects with debates of gentrification, segregation, community cohesion, and ‘otherness’. Drawing upon empirical findings which demonstrate internal geographic differences between expressions of studentification within Brighton and Hove, it is argued that existing academic conceptualisations of studentification need to be extended. It is contended that the narrow focus of these pre-existing conceptualisations obscure the diversity which is inherent within contemporary manifestations of studentification. As a result, the micro-scale contingencies of studentification have, to date, been overlooked. A refined conceptualisation of studentification is therefore proposed, which sheds light on its complexities at the neighbourhood scale. It is concluded that relatively large, socio- spatially concentrated student populations and their physical, economic, social and cultural expressions, are fluid, complex, and dynamic both spatially and temporally. In this way, recent debates of the geographies of gentrification, and the resultant emergence of a ‘chaotic’ contemporary conceptualisation, may have resonance for more fully understanding the complex and diverse geographies of studentification. Inherent within these conclusions is the problematisation of pre-existing policy initiatives implemented in order to build and maintain balanced and sustainable communities in the UK. It is concluded, therefore, that critical examinations of the suitability of such ‘blueprint’ policy initiatives have become necessary within the context of the complexity and diversity of the emerging micro-geographies of studentification. 2 List of contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………….……….9 Authors declaration………………………………………………………………………………...…10 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 11 1.1. Research aims ....................................................................................................................... 13 1.2. University towns and student populations ............................................................................ 13 1.3. Rationale for the selection of Brighton as a case study location ........................................... 15 Chapter 2: Literature Review ....................................................................................................... 22 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 22 2.2. “Widening the sociospatial net of gentrification” (Butler, 2007) ......................................... 22 2.3. Academic conceptualisations of studentification .................................................................. 26 2.4. Local community conceptualisations of studentification ...................................................... 38 2.5. National media conceptualisations of studentification ......................................................... 44 2.6. Segregation, community cohesion, sociospatial exclusion and the fear of ‘Others’ ............. 47 2.7. Transitions to adulthood, student identity construction and citizenship ............................... 50 2.8. Conceptualisations of sustainable communities: the ‘place-making’ agenda ....................... 60 2.9. Summary ............................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 3: Methodology ................................................................................................................ 66 3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 66 3.2. Local media and policy document content analysis .............................................................. 68 3.3. GIS mapping and cluster analysis of student residence in Brighton ..................................... 69 3.4. GB Census 2001 analysis ...................................................................................................... 75 3.5. Focus groups ......................................................................................................................... 75 3.6. Semi-structured interviews ................................................................................................... 79 3.7. Door-to-door questionnaire survey ....................................................................................... 82 3.8. Positionality, power relations and dissemination of research findings ................................. 85 Chapter 4: Context ......................................................................................................................... 87 4.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 87 4.2. Local media content analysis ................................................................................................ 87 4.2.1. Quantitative content analysis of The Argus .......................................................................... 87 4.2.2. ‘Bright(on) Young Things’ or ‘The Young Ones’: shifting representations of students. ..... 88 4.2.3. The micro-geographies of the emerging negative representations of students. .................... 95 4.2.4. “Integration, integration, integration”: local debates of the benefits and challenges associated with expanding student populations infiltrate the student media ....................... 99 4.2.5. Summary of local media content analyses .......................................................................... 100 4.3. Analyses of local policy developments and local residents’ perceptions ........................... 102 4.3.1. Examining unfolding local policy developments 2006-2009 ............................................. 103 4.3.2. Local residents’ perceptions: analysis of evidence submitted to an investigative panel..... 109 4.4. Examining the spatial patterns of student residence in Brighton ........................................ 113 3 4.4.1. The complexities of clustering student residence in Brighton ............................................ 114 4.4.2. A micro-geographic investigation of studentification: identifying five case study sites .... 127 4.5. Contextualising the case study sites .................................................................................... 132 4.5.1. Bevendean ........................................................................................................................... 132 4.5.2. Coombe Road ...................................................................................................................... 135 4.5.3. Hartington Road and Triangle ............................................................................................. 137 4.5.4. Hanover ............................................................................................................................... 138 4.5.5. Hollingdean ......................................................................................................................... 144 4.6. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 148 Chapter 5: Perceptions of local neighbourhood change; the views of established residents and local institutional actors ...................................................................................................................... 150 5.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 150 5.2. Bevendean ........................................................................................................................... 150 5.2.1. Perceptions of student –related neighbourhood change in Bevendean................................ 151 5.2.2. Perceptions of the unfolding processes and impacts of studentification in Bevendean ...... 153 5.2.3. The complexities of local residents’ perceptions of students and urban change in Bevendean ........................................................................................................................... 158 5.3. Perceptions of student-related neighbourhood change in Coombe Road ........................... 161 5.3.1. Perceptions of the temporal and spatial patterns of student residence in Coombe Road .... 162 5.3.2. Perceptions of the unfolding processes and impacts of studentification in Coombe Road . 163 5.3.3. The complexities of local residents’ perceptions of students and urban change in Coombe Road ..................................................................................................................................... 165 5.4. Perceptions of student-related neighbourhood change in Hartington Road and Triangle .. 167 5.4.1. Perceptions of the temporal and spatial patterns of student residence in Hartington